Pepsi Will Soon Make All Bottles from Plants

[thethingthatlurks]

About bloody time that somebody switch from petroleum derived plastics to plant derived. I'm just curious how they will go about the recycling, but that's what my scifinder access is for. Yay more distractions from actual school work...

Same way as every other plastic recycling. Seriously, the article implies that the new bottles are identical to the old ones.
(Maybe that's the writer being slightly misleading.)

But in any event, everywhere I've ever lived, soda bottles have been recyclable, and have been collected.

Unless this new type of plastic has radically different properties to existing plastic bottles, I can't see why it wouldn't be.

See, plastics are notoriously stable things, which makes recycling a huge pain in the ass. Without doing research into exact methods, I can only imagine dissolving the polymer (or liquefying the less thermally stable variety) and then reusing the monomers as a viable method, although that itself is rather nasty. Unless the plant based plastics are different in that regard, and I have no reason to believe they are, their source is really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

 

[CrystalShadow]

About bloody time that somebody switch from petroleum derived plastics to plant derived. I'm just curious how they will go about the recycling, but that's what my scifinder access is for. Yay more distractions from actual school work...

Same way as every other plastic recycling. Seriously, the article implies that the new bottles are identical to the old ones.
(Maybe that's the writer being slightly misleading.)

But in any event, everywhere I've ever lived, soda bottles have been recyclable, and have been collected.

Unless this new type of plastic has radically different properties to existing plastic bottles, I can't see why it wouldn't be.

See, plastics are notoriously stable things, which makes recycling a huge pain in the ass. Without doing research into exact methods, I can only imagine dissolving the polymer (or liquefying the less thermally stable variety) and then reusing the monomers as a viable method, although that itself is rather nasty. Unless the plant based plastics are different in that regard, and I have no reason to believe they are, their source is really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Well, considering I've witnessed someone melting down the type of plastic typically used in existing bottles and reshaping it, (and several other types of plastic.)
And have personally seen the effects that pouring hot water into one, I don't see how that's the case.

Most plastic packaging I've come across shows signs of thermal instability that suggest you can melt them down.
(Few are thermo-setting plastics.)

Local recycling guidelines note 7 numbered grades of plastic, with types 1, 2 and 3 being easily recyclable, The other 4 are clearly more difficult to handle though, since them being recycled is a lot less common. (or at least, household collection isn't done for those types, so there must be some complications.)

Type 3 is yoghurt & Butter/margerine tubs.

Type 2 is PET, which is soft drink (soda) bottles, shampoo bottles, and several others.

Type 1 is milk bottles (well, around here, anyway. Some places use a different type of plastic for this), which is, I think, PVC.

Still, making plastics from plants was only a matter of time really. Quite a number of the materials living organisms are made from share structural similarities with plastic.
(And technically, many have the characteristics of plastic too. Human skin for instance, looks a lot like molten plastic if you've ever seen the results of some really nasty burns.)

But I suppose whether this new stuff is easily recycled does depend on the details of what it is.

 

[Windexglow]

The last time we had an organic package, it was rather noisy.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

About bloody time that somebody switch from petroleum derived plastics to plant derived. I'm just curious how they will go about the recycling, but that's what my scifinder access is for. Yay more distractions from actual school work...

Same way as every other plastic recycling. Seriously, the article implies that the new bottles are identical to the old ones.
(Maybe that's the writer being slightly misleading.)

But in any event, everywhere I've ever lived, soda bottles have been recyclable, and have been collected.

Unless this new type of plastic has radically different properties to existing plastic bottles, I can't see why it wouldn't be.

See, plastics are notoriously stable things, which makes recycling a huge pain in the ass. Without doing research into exact methods, I can only imagine dissolving the polymer (or liquefying the less thermally stable variety) and then reusing the monomers as a viable method, although that itself is rather nasty. Unless the plant based plastics are different in that regard, and I have no reason to believe they are, their source is really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Well, considering I've witnessed someone melting down the type of plastic typically used in existing bottles and reshaping it, (and several other types of plastic.)
And have personally seen the effects that pouring hot water into one, I don't see how that's the case.

Most plastic packaging I've come across shows signs of thermal instability that suggest you can melt them down.
(Few are thermo-setting plastics.)

Local recycling guidelines note 7 numbered grades of plastic, with types 1, 2 and 3 being easily recyclable, The other 4 are clearly more difficult to handle though, since them being recycled is a lot less common. (or at least, household collection isn't done for those types, so there must be some complications.)

Type 3 is yoghurt & Butter/margerine tubs.

Type 2 is PET, which is soft drink (soda) bottles, shampoo bottles, and several others.

Type 1 is milk bottles (well, around here, anyway. Some places use a different type of plastic for this), which is, I think, PVC.

Still, making plastics from plants was only a matter of time really. Quite a number of the materials living organisms are made from share structural similarities with plastic.
(And technically, many have the characteristics of plastic too. Human skin for instance, looks a lot like molten plastic if you've ever seen the results of some really nasty burns.)

But I suppose whether this new stuff is easily recycled does depend on the details of what it is.

Cool, learned something new. Thanks!
I don't actually deal much with plastics as a chemistry major (weird, I know), just with plain polymerization, never the reverse. I've seen plastic objects get destroyed by organic solvents (chloroform, acetonitrile, etc), but I have never thought about actual recycling of those damn things until now. Better late than never I guess...

 

[CrystalShadow]

About bloody time that somebody switch from petroleum derived plastics to plant derived. I'm just curious how they will go about the recycling, but that's what my scifinder access is for. Yay more distractions from actual school work...

Same way as every other plastic recycling. Seriously, the article implies that the new bottles are identical to the old ones.
(Maybe that's the writer being slightly misleading.)

But in any event, everywhere I've ever lived, soda bottles have been recyclable, and have been collected.

Unless this new type of plastic has radically different properties to existing plastic bottles, I can't see why it wouldn't be.

See, plastics are notoriously stable things, which makes recycling a huge pain in the ass. Without doing research into exact methods, I can only imagine dissolving the polymer (or liquefying the less thermally stable variety) and then reusing the monomers as a viable method, although that itself is rather nasty. Unless the plant based plastics are different in that regard, and I have no reason to believe they are, their source is really unimportant in the grand scheme of things.

Well, considering I've witnessed someone melting down the type of plastic typically used in existing bottles and reshaping it, (and several other types of plastic.)
And have personally seen the effects that pouring hot water into one, I don't see how that's the case.

Most plastic packaging I've come across shows signs of thermal instability that suggest you can melt them down.
(Few are thermo-setting plastics.)

Local recycling guidelines note 7 numbered grades of plastic, with types 1, 2 and 3 being easily recyclable, The other 4 are clearly more difficult to handle though, since them being recycled is a lot less common. (or at least, household collection isn't done for those types, so there must be some complications.)

Type 3 is yoghurt & Butter/margerine tubs.

Type 2 is PET, which is soft drink (soda) bottles, shampoo bottles, and several others.

Type 1 is milk bottles (well, around here, anyway. Some places use a different type of plastic for this), which is, I think, PVC.

Still, making plastics from plants was only a matter of time really. Quite a number of the materials living organisms are made from share structural similarities with plastic.
(And technically, many have the characteristics of plastic too. Human skin for instance, looks a lot like molten plastic if you've ever seen the results of some really nasty burns.)

But I suppose whether this new stuff is easily recycled does depend on the details of what it is.

Cool, learned something new. Thanks!
I don't actually deal much with plastics as a chemistry major (weird, I know), just with plain polymerization, never the reverse. I've seen plastic objects get destroyed by organic solvents (chloroform, acetonitrile, etc), but I have never thought about actual recycling of those damn things until now. Better late than never I guess...

Heh. Well, I seem to absorb facts about stuff constantly, though I have to caution it's not always entirely accurate. (I've noticed I say things which I later found out are incorrect at times.)

And sometimes, I make mistakes without intending to. (Like I just said type 3 plastic was commonly recyled, which isn't true.)

I'm not a scientist or anything. Although I was doing a physics major at one point. (Hint: Don't study physics if math gives you headaches. XD - I was great with my highschool physics exams for some reason, but they tell you what formulas are involved. University exams do not.)
Now I mostly deal with computer programming instead.

I read a lot of new scientist, and not too long ago I read a textbook on electrical engineering just out of curiosity.

It's funny what you can learn about things just by being curious, but it can't replace being an expert in a subject.

 

[duchaked]

huh...I was inclined to believe Pepsi was made from plants considering how it tastes
blech

 

[(LK)]

If it doesn't biodegrade I'm not sure the guilt quotient is any different between using plants from today or using algae from millions of years ago.

 

[The Rockerfly]

If this is true and they replant after they use the plants in the bottles then they are one the way to a sustainable company which really most businesses should be aiming for in the next few years. At least if they want to survive and not get butt fucked by price increases

Article says they're using plant waste from plants already used for something else. (orange peels were mentioned, amongst other things.)

I'll be honest, when I posted it was late and I didn't read the full article but holy crap that's fantastic. If they do I will not buy another coke until they switch to something more economical.

 

[Nouw]

That is awesome news, I'm doing a lot of work on the environment and this is a good break from all the bad news.

 

[PunkRex]

Being personally responsable for roughly half the Pepsi sales hear in the UK all I can say is my conscience is that little bit clearer... and now im jonesing for the sugar rush, I GOTTA GO!!!

 

[ThreeKneeNick]

Speaking of Pepsi, what happened to their disgusting-sounding liquid snacks? Did that hit the market, did anybody try it?

 

[Brad Shepard]

Hey, as long as it does not change the taste of my pepsi, im golden.

 

[Griffolion]

Sounds good to me, environmentally friendly packaging is always a plus. It's nice to see such a big company taking on some environmental responsibility.

 

[LostintheWick]

Lol, watch the rest of the world be like hey pepsi can we get that code for plant bottles so we can do our part as well and pepsi is like fuck youuuuuuuuuuu we're the only saviors around here!

I lol'd. As stupid as this sounds, this is probably the way it's gonna go.

 

[dbmountain]

why do people think the plant materials will find their way into their drink? it's not liek the bottle is made of weaved grass. the materials will not leach any more into the drink than petroleum-based plastics, in the end they are both PLASTIC

 

[Spookimitsu]

Jesus Christ.

Ever heard of recycling? No? There's this little thing we do in civilized countries, where every bottle or can you buy from the store can be returned to that same store (or any other store) empty and whole in return for a token sum - say, 20 or 40 cent. Adds up quickly though. Oh, look: a ton of bottles that can either be safely recycled as they ought to be, or down-right re-used as is.
So, seriously - stuff like the OP there: not really helping. But yeah, silver star for trying I guess.

/eco rant.

Oddly enough even with all the recycling most bottles just end up in landfills, or in the Pacific. So how do you think this WON'T help?

Edit: wait what? they're not biodegradable?

 

[Latinidiot]

Well at the very lest the pepsi bottles will contain something that was once nutritious.


HA!

 

[moretimethansense]

Jesus Christ.

Ever heard of recycling? No? There's this little thing we do in civilized countries, where every bottle or can you buy from the store can be returned to that same store (or any other store) empty and whole in return for a token sum - say, 20 or 40 cent. Adds up quickly though. Oh, look: a ton of bottles that can either be safely recycled as they ought to be, or down-right re-used as is.

Fun fact: Drunken people are poor at financial management and tend to drop their bottles around everywhere, but luckily if you don't collect your own bottles after the (outdoors) party, someone who is more entrepreneurial than you surely will. Everyone wins!

So, seriously - stuff like the OP there: not really helping. But yeah, silver star for trying I guess.

/eco rant.

Another fun fact:
With the exception of metals the process of recycling is grossly inefficiant and in fact is a large poluter in and of its self.

OP
Still not good enough but it's a start.

 

[VanityGirl]

Pepsi is certainly using the opportunity to slap Coca-Cola in the face with its discovery. Coke, Pepsi's much larger competitor, recently stated that its research was several years away from a 100 percent bioplastic bottle.

And Coke is probably right. While Pepsi's news is exciting, I'm very skeptical. Being 100% biodegradable seems iffy to me.

Also, wouldn't this make another problem? Aren't we already in trouble for using too much plant material for things?