VEVEY, SWITZERLAND – Nestle SA is testing new plastic bottles through its Vittel water brand in France. The bottles use less plastic, but perform like traditional plastic bottles, according to the company.

One new application is called Vittel Go, which features a reusable hard case that holds refills of Vittel. The refills are made with 40% less plastic than a traditional Vittel bottle.

The second application is a 100% recyclable 1-liter bottle that is made from two materials. The first material is a plastic bottle made from recycled content. The plastic layer is surrounded by a fiber-based material made from recycled cardboard and newspaper.

Another company testing a new sustainable bottle prototype is the Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta. This past February, The Coca-Cola Co. announced a limited trial this summer in Hungary of the company’s paper bottle prototype. The new bottle consists of a paper shell with a recyclable plastic lining and cap. The technology is designed to create 100% recyclable bottles made of sustainably sourced wood with a bio-based material barrier capable of resisting liquids, CO2 and oxygen, and suitable for beverages, beauty products and other liquid goods.

“Our vision is to create a paper bottle that can be recycled like any other type of paper,” said Stijn Franssen, research and development packaging innovation manager for the Coca-Cola Co. “A paper bottle opens up a whole new world of packaging possibilities, and we are convinced that paper packaging has a role to play in the future.

The trial will measure the package’s performance and shopper response to the format, according to the company.

The market researcher GlobalData said Coca-Cola’s paper bottle will attract the 43% of global consumers that stated how ethical or environmentally friendly a product is influences their product purchasing decisions. The move also is seen encouraging other companies to launch plastic packaging alternatives, and, in the long term, consumers should expect to see paper-based bottles appearing for other liquid products in the hospitality, restaurant and cafe segment and in other retail stores, ranging from beers to soft drinks, juices and ready-to-drink items.

“Coca-Cola’s paper bottle will open up a whole new world of possibilities for beverage companies,” said Arvind Kaila, head of consumer beverages for GlobalData. “With growing pressure from consumers and government bodies alike on sustainability initiatives, it is no surprise that there has been a surge in research and development (R&D) into paper bottles.”