Dive Brief:
- DuPont Industrial Biosciences and Archer Daniels Midland Co. have developed renewable materials that demonstrate high-performance capabilities for food and beverage packaging.
- The materials involve creatingfuran dicarboxylic methyl ester(FDME) from fructose to create bio-based packaging, but in the past, manufacturers haven't been able to use the materials because they commanded high costs and were unavailable at commercial scale.
- "The new FDME technology is a more efficient and simple process than traditional conversion approaches and results in higher yields, lower energy usage and lower capital expenditures," according to a news release.
Dive Insight:
One polymer is particularly suitable for beverage producers, as the polyester is100% renewable and recyclable and can be used to make bottles and other beverage packaging. This innovation "substantially improves gas-barrier properties compared to other polyesters," which can improve shelf life, the news release said.
Eco-friendly packaging has been more popular among manufacturers large and small as they move to make their products and operations moresustainable.
Last year, Coca-Colaannounced100%的植物性PET瓶,USDA encouraged plant-based packaging byproposinga rule to addmanufacturers of plant-based products to a loan guarantee program. Tetra Pak has created a recyclable bottle made primarily ofrenewable paper.
Coffee company Melitta USA has developed 100% recyclable single-servecoffee pods, which it began shipping out in 2013 and could alleviate concerns about一次性袋子pods' impact on the environment.
