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2006-06-09 News Headlines

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Successful trials for environmentally friendly packaging program

Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize is expanding its environmentally friendly packaging program, using NatureWorks PLA, 100 percent nature-based packaging.

After a range of tests which began in August 2005 in one store, all Delhaize supermarkets in Belgium will be using packaging made from NatureWorks PLA for prepared salads – both in-store and by external suppliers - as well as organic and traditional bread. The range of packaging products comprises transparent delicatessen salad trays and the windows on bread bags used by in-store bakeries. All these will be made from the natural material. The change-over from traditional petroleum-based plastics (PET) packaging to NatureWorks PLA is supported by in-store posters and labels on all salad packages. These are to ensure that shoppers are made aware that the packaging is made from annually renewable resources.

Find more Information about Delhaize supermarket chain.

According to Philippe Henri Heymans of Delhaize: “The Delhaize company wants to insure that its activities have a minimum impact on the environment, and NatureWorks PLA packaging is one of a range of on-going initiatives being introduced to our shoppers in Belgium."

NatureWorks® PLA, 100 percent nature-based packaging. Click Go for High resolution image. photo: NatureWorks

Ingrid Nelis of Delhaize adds: "Before introducing the new packaging, we carried out a series of tests to establish that the new material would provide us with the same performance both in terms of hygiene, food safety and protection as well as customer convenience. Following the positive reactions from our customers to the 2005 tests and with these current applications up and running throughout our store network, we are now in the process of testing and evaluating further possible packaging applications for NatureWorks PLA."

Mark Vergauwen, Business Development Manager for NatureWorks BV adds: NatureWorks PLA (polylactide) is completely derived from annually renewable resources. The technology used to produce the material harvests the starch stored in these annually renewable resources (eg field maize) into natural plant sugars. The sugar is then fermented into lactic acid which is used to create a clear plastic known as polylactide. NatureWorks PLA can be shaped into a variety of bottles, containers, trays, films and other packaging, which decompose in industrial compost facilities according to standard EN13432. As an extra bonus for environmentally-conscious consumers, the production of NatureWorks PLA uses up to 65 percent less fossil fuel resources then traditional plastics and it is the world’s first greenhouse-gas-neutral polymer.”

The NatureWorks PLA packaging in Delhaize is currently supplied by three converters:

Guillin Emballages
Guillin Emballages, a subsidiary of Guillin Group, was the first company to offer transparent hinged containers for pastry and deli markets. Guillin Emballages design, manufacture and distribute, from a stock of more than 1.000 references, standard thermoformed plastic packaging throughout Europe. With its high performance industrial plant, ultra reactive storage units, a fully integrated production process and an international sales force, Guillin Emballages is European leader in cake, pastry and catering containers for supermarkets, hypermarkets, and the food industry; in both warm and cold use.

Find Information and Suppliers of thermoformed plastic packaging.

Sabert
Sabert is a privately held company based Sayreville NJ with production facilities in New Jersey, California and Brussels, Belgium. As a leading supplier of stock and custom packaging to the fresh prepared food market, Sabert offers a broad range of bowls and platters. Sabert products are marketed under the FreshPack®, Bow12™ and FastPac™ brand names. More information about the company is available at their website.

Sidaplax
Sidaplax, a subsidiary of Plastic Suppliers, Inc., is a leading manufacturer and converter of EarthFirst™ PLA film. EarthFirst PLA film is produced from NatureWorks PLA resin. EarthFirst PLA, compostable film, which is a corn based plastic film is produced at one of the Sidaplax ISO ]9001:2000 certified plants in Columbus, OH using their patented process. Common applications for Earth first film are window envelopes folding carton windows and label applications. Plastic Suppliers and Sidaplax are proud of the newest addition to the product line. EarthFirst PLA Film can be used in label face stock, shrink sleeve, wrap around shrink, floral & over wrap, window carton, packaging and envelope window film applications. For additional information on EarthFirst™ PLA film see their website.

About NatureWorks LLC
NatureWorks LLC is a stand-alone company wholly owned by Cargill. Dedicated to meeting the world's needs today without compromising the earth's ability to meet the needs of tomorrow, NatureWorks LLC is the first company to offer a family of commercially available greenhouse-gas-neutral polymers derived from 100 percent annually renewable resources with cost and performance that compete with petroleum-based packaging materials and fibers. The company applies its unique technology to the processing of natural plant sugars to create a proprietary polylactide polymer, which is marketed under the NatureWorks PLA and Ingeo® fibers brand names.

NatureWorks and the EcoPLA design are registered Trademarks of NatureWorks LLC.

Read a recent press release from NatureWorks LLC about - 'NatureWorks LLC polylactide polymers and Ingeo fibers to showcase packaging and other products at the Biodegradable Plastics Exhibition at Beijing Chuangye Plaza.'

Find Information and Suppliers of plastic food trays.

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