South Africa is the first African market that will launch the Coca-Cola Company’s (Atlanta / USA; www.thecoca-colacompany.com) sugar-based ethanol “PlantBottle”. In mid-July, Coca-Cola South Africa (Johannesburg; www.cocacola.co.za) announced that it has opened a state-of-the-art bottling plant for Valpre Spring Water in Heidelberg / South Africa. Located close to crucial markets and distribution sites in the country’s southeastern Guateng region, the new facility will help Coca-Cola meet rising demand for bottled water.

Coca-Cola launched its PlantBottle – made from up to 30% plant material and 100% recyclable – last year (see Plasteurope.com of 10.02.2011) and it has since been launched in 10 different countries.

Coca-Cola South Africa said the Valpre plant is currently in the midst of receiving Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. The design not only maximises the use of recycled materials, it also has a “zero to landfill” target.

Meanwhile, the plastics recycling sector in South Africa is steadily growing. In 2009 the overall plastics recycling rate was 18.3%, with packaging already at 29% (see Plasteurope.com of 13.07.2011).