Coca-Cola’s largest bottler, Europacific Partners (CCEP), has partnered with the University of Berkley (UCB) to develop scalable methods of converting captured CO2 into sugar through its innovation investment platform CCEP Ventures.
The technology is said to potentially reduce some of the biggest contributors of carbon dioxide in supply chains while saving resources, transportation, and logistic costs.
The company’s initial investment with UCB will support Peidong Yang Research Group, which will focus on allowing the production of sugar from carbon dioxide on-site at an industrial level, with expectations to scale – from lab to pilot phase.
“Air to sugar conversion could significantly impact our ability to preserve the natural world,” said Professor Peidong Yang, lead researcher of the study at UCB.
“This bold, scientific vision would bring immediate environmental benefits, fundamentally transforming the production and distribution of goods worldwide.”
About a quarter of the bottler’s carbon footprint is attributed to agricultural ingredients, including sugar, and the technology would reduce its emissions and improve land use.
“CCEP wants to grow sustainably, producing beverages that people love while helping to build a better future for our business, communities and the planet,” says Craig Twyford, head of CCEP Ventures,
“We’re excited to be involved in this project that could lead the industry in developing transformational technology capable of converting CO2 into more complex, usable goods.”
