Pepsi Creates First Plastic Bottle Made Completely of Plants

Pepsico (NYSE:PEP) has developed the world’s first plastic bottle made entirely from plants and other renewable resources, its latest effort as part of a company-wide effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The beverage company said the 100% recyclable bottle is made from bio-based raw materials, including switch grass, pine bark and corn husks. Pepsico created a molecular structure that is identical to petroleum-based PET, mirroring in touch and look its traditional bottles.

Pepsico says it hopes to one day broaden its use of renewable sources for the “green” bottle, including orange peels, potato peels and oat hulls.

"This breakthrough innovation is a transformational development for PepsiCo and the beverage industry, and a direct result of our commitment to research and development," Indra Nooyi, the company’s chief executive.

Following pilot production of the new bottle in 2012, Pepsico intends to move directly to full-scale commercialization.