Coca-Cola to find ways to make its packaging more of zero waste

(polyestertime) -- The Coca-Cola Company has released its eighth system-wide sustainability report, outlining what it's doing to be a kinder, gentler beverage company.

The report, titled "Reasons to Believe," states that the company is continuing to find ways to make its packaging more sustainable, while working toward a goal of zero waste.

According to the report, 85 percent of its unit case volume is delivered in recyclable bottles and cans, with PET being used for 54 percent of the company's packaging, followed by aluminum at 12 percent. Currently, Coke recovers about 36 percent of the equivalent bottles and cans it sends to market, and hopes to raise that number to 50 percent by 2015.

However, the report acknowledges that "recycling is complicated by the fact that waste management is very much a local issue, with different circumstances in every locale," and states that collaboration with local governments, communities and NGOs (non-governmental organizations) will be critical to realizing the company's goals.
Coke is also helping support the market for recycled PET by entering into partnerships to use the material in consumer goods such as caps, t-shirts, bags and notebooks in hopes of educating consumers to think differently about their empty bottles. With increasing pressure on natural resources Coke is also looking into "alternatives to conventional PET bottles," according to the report, which highlights its PlantBottle, a fully recyclable PET bottle made partially from plant-derived PET.

However, Coke notes in the report that "we have found it is important to remind consumers that our PlantBottle packaging is still fully recyclable and not biodegradable, despite being made partly from plants."

MRC

(fibre2fashion) -- Global chemical fiber production reached 48.66 million tons in 2011, up 12.7 percent from 43.1 million tons posted in 2010.

Of which, production in China reached 32.2 million tons, an increase of 13.8 percent year on year. India produced 2.772 million tons, down 2.3 percent and output from Taiwan reached 2.1 million tons, down 6.9 percent.

West European production registered 2.332 million tons, a marginal increase of 0.7 percent and US production was 1.834 million tons, down 0.7 percent year on year.

Production of chemical fiber in South Korea stood at 1.4 million tons, down 1.2 percent year on year, Japanese output was 789,000 tons, a rise of 3.2 percent and ASEAN production achieved 2.7 million tons, down 2.3 percent.

MRC

(ivl) -- The Board of Directors of Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (⌠IVL) approved the acquisition of 100% partnership interest in Old World Industries I Ltd., and Old World Transportation Ltd., located in Clear Lake, Texas, USA.

Old World, is the largest single EO/EG production facility in the U.S. with Crude EO capacity
of 435,000 tons per annum. Mono Ethylene Glycol (MEG) is one of the key components,
together with Purified Terephthalic Acid (PTA), in the manufacture of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyester Fibers and Yarns, both downstream products of IVL.

IVL has signed a definitive Purchase Agreement on 6 February 2012 with the seller in USA
and the Company expects the closing of the transaction within first quarter of 2012 subject to
the applicable regulatory approvals.

MRC

(kpfilms) -- The Klockner Pentaplast Group announced that it broke
ground for construction of its first manufacturing facility in China.

Located 80 km west of Shanghai in the Suzhou Industrial Park in Suzhou, China, the new site will produce packaging films for the growing domestic Chinese market. The first phase of production capacity will focus on transverse-direction oriented shrink-label films, used primarily for full- or partial-body shrink-sleeve applications.

Klockner Pentaplast is the only producer of shrink-label films with global manufacturing in
the Americas, Asia, and Europe.
The new 12,000-square-meter manufacturing site will house state-of-the-art production
equipment, high-tech production control systems, and a research and development laboratory. The site will increase Klockner Pentaplast's global shrink-films capacity by 6,000 metric tons. The CNY 185.7 mln (USD29.5 mln ) investment is targeted for completion in first quarter 2013 and is expected to employ 100 people.

MRC

MOSCOW (MRC) -- In 2011, the imports of PET granulate to the Ukrainian market declined by 9.6%. The local market still can not reach pre-crisis figures, due to reduced production of beer, soft drinks and mineral water, according to MRC analysts.

In 2011, the Ukrainian market of PET did not meet the expectations of growth. Last year the market capacity of PET made about 150,000 tonnes. This was by 40% less than record figures in 2007, when the Ukrainian producers of PET preforms processed about 250,000 tonnes of granulate. The consumption of the polymer has remained the third year at the level not higher than in 2005.

The last year reduction of PET-containers consumption resulted from the drop in sales in the sectors of finished products. In Ukraine production of beer decreased significantly. The total production of beer in 2011 made nearly 305 mln. dal., which was by 1.6% less year on year. The production of mineral water decreased by 8% to 124 mln. dal. Consumption of carbonated soft drinks declined by 3% and made 142 mln. dal.

The producers of juice were affected most of all. The production in this segment dropped by almost 20%. As per MRC analysts, last year there was an increase in milk and sunflower oil production, but due to a small share in the total consumption of PET preforms this hike was not felt.

Overall consumption of granulate was also affected by the reduction of the average weight of PET preforms. According to Retal company, in 2011 the average weight of the preform became lighter by 2% and made about 34.1 grams.
According to some trading companies, the capacity of the spot market also declined. To sell PET at previous years levels became more difficult. In this regard, many trading companies channelled free cash to other markets of polymers and petrochemicals.

The largest supplier of granulate to the Ukrainian market is China. Last year the Chinese producers supplied about 90,000 tonnes of bottle PET, which was equivalent to 60% in total consumption. At the same time the supply of the Korean PET decreased by 16% to about 16,000 tonnes. Some converters said, that next year they would shift to the purchases of the Middle Eastern and African PET. The shorter logistic distribution and acceptable prices in comparison with Asia benefit to this.

Up to date, Ukraine has been a net importer of PET granulate. There is no PET production in Ukraine. In the nearest future, building of new production lines in Ukraine is not expected. The largest consumer of PET in Ukraine is Retal Group.


MRC