USA: Stonyfield Farm announced launch of PLA for their multipacks

Stonyfield Farm has announced the launch of new plant-based packaging for all of its multipack form/fill/seal containers. The new polylactic acid cups, made from Ingeo resin from NatureWorks LLC, replace previous packaging made from polystyrene, resulting in 48 % less greenhouse gas emissions, Greener Package reports. Stonyfield vice president of Natural Resources Nancy Hirshberg told Greener Package that when they approached this project it had been a priority to get out of polystyrene. The company produces approximately 200 million multipack cups per year, and according to Ms Hirshberg, this single change will reduce packaging climate impact by 9 %. Since the feedstock used for the resin for Stonyfield’s cups is non-GM corn, Stonyfield has become the first major purchaser of offsets through the Working Landscapes Certificates.

The innovation is said to be the first use of PLA for f/f/s dairy containers. Stonyfield has concentrated its efforts on reducing materials: according to Ms Hirshberg, Stonyfield was the first to lightweight its yogurt cups in the 1990s, and the first to eliminate the plastic lid in favor of flexible foil lidding in 2002. For Stonyfield, corn is considered a transitional step. Ultimately, the company plans to move to cellulosic fiber as a feedstock, once the technology is commercially viable. Despite the cost of purchasing offsets in addition to the investment in a bioplastic material, Ms Hirshberg announced that the switch from PS to PLA would not result in a cost increase, either for Stonyfield or for its customers.

Greener Package