Biota also means flora and fauna, which further underscores the bottlesâ planet-friendly nature.
Whatâs the product shelf life?
Chief executive officer David Zutler notes that the bottles are coded with a âcreated onâ date akin to Budweiserâs âborn onâ date for its beer. âConsumers may misconstrue that the product inside isnât as good after a certain or coded period of time,â he says. âThe âcreated dateâ does not reflect the quality, but is more of a management tool.â
What about the water vapor transmission rate?
Zutler acknowledges that the water vapor transmission rate is higher for PLA than for PET, âbut that just means water could evaporate faster through PLA,â he says. âIt doesnât relate to the quality of the water.â
Biotaâs bottles are substantially heavier than a PET bottle, but that was done by choice, not necessity. âWe could have used a 16-gram weight for the 1-L bottle, but we want people to feel the premium quality in their hands,â Zutler says. The bottles have sidewalls that are about 25% thicker than normal.
What about the economics versus PET?
âWhen we first started development with PLA, it was substantially pricier than PET, but thatâs no longer the case,â says Zutler. âItâs pretty darn close now, and I understand that PET price increases are expected next year.â
See the story that goes with this sidebar: BIOTAâs high-water mark in sustainable packaging