Suntory Group to launch PET bottles made from used cooking oil

It aims to produce approximately 45 million beverage PET bottles using this new material.

Suntory Group will begin producing PET bottles from bio-paraxylene derived from used cooking oil in Japan starting in November.

The group said the initiative will be the world’s first commercial use of bio-paraxylene in PET bottles, significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to traditional petroleum-based materials.

The company plans to produce approximately 45 million beverage PET bottles using this new material, with potential expansion to other products in the future.

PET bottles are made from 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 70% terephthalic acid (TPA).

Since 2013, Suntory said it has been using plant-based MEG in its Suntory Tennensui brand. Now, it has successfully produced TPA on a commercial scale using paraxylene from biomass.

To support this effort, Suntory has partnered with ENEOS Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation to establish a global supply chain for sourcing bionaphtha from used cooking oil.

The bionaphtha is also produced during the manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), highlighting the growing importance of a bio-naphtha supply chain as SAF production increases.

Suntory Group said it aims to enhance its mass production capabilities for bio-based PET bottles in collaboration with industry partners.