, marking that company's first purchase order. The preforms are injection molded from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the EcoPure organic additive, which reportedly renders the bottles biodegradable, and will be used for clear 18-20g water bottles, according to John Morrison VP messaging and communications at the Scottsdale, AZ-based firm.

Morrison told PlasticsToday that at this time the finished bottles will be sold into the domestic market, although there is some possibility for export for the bottling company, which at this time will remain unnamed.

Casey Container is an EcoPure licensee that injection molds biodegradable preforms from PET, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and other conventional polymers. The company believes prospects for biodegradable bottles are strong, citing an August 2010 report by The Freedonia Group U.S. that forecast demand for degradable products would increase 16.6% annually through 2014.

Casey Container's preform and bottle manufacturing plant is scheduled to come online in 2011, with the company stating it will have capacity to injection mold 35 million preforms once the plant is fully ramped up.

Ecopure is a specially designed additive that's mixed into plastics at low levels (0.7%, 1.0%, 1.5%) and "coats" a polymer's chains to make them attractive to microbes. The microbes can then release acid and move through the chains, feeding on their ends and allowing the material to biodegrade. The company claims to have more than 270 clients globally, with 163 of those in the U.S.

Casey Container, which is a publicly traded company, say that its preforms cost from $0.04 to $0.06 per preform than standard PET competitors, depending on volume.