CCA announces Richlands as next stop on PET conversion project

Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has announced the latest stage of its $450 million PET bottle conversion strategy across its Asia-Pacific operations, an upgrade of its Richlands, Queensland, plant.

The project, funded to the tune of $1.3 million through the federal government's Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment program with an additional $2.5 million from CCA, will produce the company's lightest PET bottles globally, as well as cut carbon emissions at the plant by 32 per cent, the company said.

The new PET blow filling technology at the plant will be used to make 1.25-litre, 1.2-litre and two-litre bottles for its main drinks brands.

CCA's supply chain manager for Queensland, Dermot Hawkins, said the upgrade would increase bottle filling efficiency, boost production line performance, reduce wastage during the carbonisation process and reduce energy costs.

“The technology will save CCA's Richlands facility up to $285,000 a year in energy costs,” he said.

“It will also help safeguard us against rising energy expenses, while significantly reducing the environmental impact of our packaging.”

The new technology to be installed will enable the company to manufacture and design new lightweight bottles using up to 20 per cent less PET than its existing bottles.

The company says the move will reduce the total carbon footprint of each bottle by an average of 22 per cent.

CCA's PET blow filling project aims to convert all its bottling facilities in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Fiji to the new technology by 2015.