California-based Origin Materials, a carbon-negative materials company that aims to enable the world’s transition to sustainable materials, announced that it has developed “all PET” (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottle caps, allowing for the creation of “100 per cent recycled PET” bottles.
This advancement supports their mission of promoting sustainable materials and post-consumer recycling, contributing to reduced plastic waste and environmental impact.
Origin Materials’ PET caps are more sustainable
Origin’s PET caps are more sustainable than common alternatives because they can be produced with any type of PET, from recycled PET to Origin’s 100 per cent bio-based, carbon-negative virgin PET. PET offers better oxygen and CO2 barrier than HDPE and PP, common cap materials.
Origin Materials says its developed PET bottle caps are highly sustainable, as they can be made from different types of PET, including recycled and their own bio-based PET.
Origin claims PET offers better barrier properties than other common cap materials. Their manufacturing innovation creates “mono-material” products, which are easier to recycle than those made from multiple materials, aligning with their eco-friendly goals.
John Bissell, co-founder and co-CEO of Origin says, “We identified a global sustainability challenge and an opportunity to solve it. An all-PET bottle and cap and closure system is an obvious, necessary next step in beverage packaging and recycling.”
“With our process, we can make caps from 100 per cent recycled PET or 100 per cent bio-based PET, unlocking important sustainability and potentially performance benefits for our customers.”
“This is what happens when you bring together some of the best materials and polymer scientists and engineers in the world under one roof. We saw an obvious need for a mono-material solution and the creativity of our team rose to the challenge,” adds Bissell.
Origin’s solution is projected to target a $65B worldwide caps and closures market that is estimated to rise to $96B by 2030. The company claims that its PET caps could experience higher demand due to cap tethering mandates.
These mandates aim to improve recycling by keeping caps attached to bottles, reducing plastic litter. Unlike traditional caps, Origin’s PET caps remain attached during recycling, aligning with their sustainability goals and potentially simplifying recycling processes.
About Origin Materials
Origin Materials is a producer of carbon-negative materials. Its purpose is to facilitate the shift to sustainable materials across the world.
The company has been developing a platform for converting the carbon present in affordable, abundant non-food biomass such as sustainable wood wastes into valuable commodities while trapping carbon in the process.
Origin has a patented technology platform with the potential to revolutionise the production of a wide range of products, from clothing to fuels, in a market valued at approximately $1T.
Their technology also offers stable pricing, unaffected by the volatility of the petroleum supply chain. This innovation has garnered support from major global customers and investors, confirming its value and impact.
