[GreenYes] PET and BAER

[Amy Perlmutter <amyp@chelseacenter.org>]

Why would BAER want more plastic used in bottles? Don't they want them
available for carpet? Wouldn't soda bottles be a competing use? Are they
hoping that coke and other beverage companies will support a bottle bill if
they have to find enough clean PET for their own use?

PLASTICS NEWS - March 27, 2001
Coke may beef up recycled content
          By Steve Toloken
          PLASTICS NEWS STAFF
          =20
          ATLANTA (March 27, 3:35 p.m. EST) -- Coca-Cola Co. is
considering using 10 percent recycled content in all of its 
PET  bottles in the United States -- four times what it uses now -- and
supporting a much higher PET container recycling rate by 2005, according to
several sources.

          Coke officials would not comment, but details were confirmed by
          several sources familiar with talks the soft drink giant is 
having with shareholder and environmental interest groups. Sources say
Coke plans to tell its bottlers that it is considering the new 
initiatives,including measures to raise the PET recycling rate to at least 
55  percent, or possibly 60 percent.

          That signals a significant new policy for the world's 
largest soft drink maker, and could lead competitors to follow. Atlanta-based
Coke has been under pressure from some shareholders and a coalition known
as Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling.

          Coke has said it now is using 10 percent recycled content in 
one of every four PET bottles -- or 2.5 percent recycled content 
across the board. Coke officials in the past few weeks have said they 
want to use more recycled content, but would not provide specifics.

          The new goal -- 10 percent in all bottles -- still would fall 
well short of tougher targets set by the Coke shareholders and BEAR, a 
coalition that includes a large carpet manufacturer, environmental
groups and a foundation affiliated with Ted Turner.


Amy Perlmutter
Executive Director
Chelsea Center for Recycling and
Economic Development
University of Massachusetts
180 Second Street
Chelsea, MA 02150
617-887-2300/fax 617-887-0399
visit our web site at www.chelseacenter.org