ESG Today writes that the companies want to produce bio-paraxylene (bio-PX) to replace about 35 million plastic bottles in Suntory's supply chain for 2024.

Renewable expert NESTE will be supplying the required biomass made from 100% renewable resources, such as cooking oil, with Mitsubishi officials overseeing the supply chain for the production of sustainable PET bottles.

ENEOS will manufacture the required raw materials for the production of the bottles, while Suntory will incorporate the said materials in its bottles which should reach the market next year.

Mitsubishi officials claim that this will be the first time PET bottles will be produced using bio-PX derived from biomass, with the upcoming supply chain helping the bottling industry reduce carbon emissions coming from petroleum-based bottles.

"We believe the usage of biomass for PET bottles, together with further development of the recycling system, will play an important role in the realization of a low-carbon and decarbonized society as well as in reducing dependency on fossil resources", Mitsubishi officials stated.