Pactiv Corporation Launches EarthChoice; Comprehensive Line of Sustainable Food Service Packaging Products

EarthChoice products include cold drink cups, portion cups, and lids; hinged lid and deli containers; and straws made from PLA (Polylactic Acid), a natural plastic material sold under the name Ingeo.

20 May 2010 --- Pactiv Corporation, a leader in the food service packaging industry, has introduced its EarthChoice brand of nearly 80 sustainable packaging products including cups, hinged-lid containers, plates, and straws, for disposable food service needs. The comprehensive line of EarthChoice products offers a variety of features including sustainable and renewable resources, reduced amounts of plastics, less fossil fuel to manufacture, post consumer recycled content, certified compostable and chlorine-free processing.

“Companies who have become more environmentally sensitive in their food service product choices or who face increasing requirements about the types of products and materials they use will appreciate EarthChoice’s broad offering of packaging choices and environmental benefits,” said John McGrath, VP marketing and sales for Pactiv’s Foodservice/Food Packaging Group. “We are committed to providing our customers a wide range of options to meet their sustainable food service packaging needs, and have and will continue to make significant investments in domestic manufacturing infrastructure.”

EarthChoice products include cold drink cups, portion cups, and lids; hinged lid and deli containers; and straws made from PLA (Polylactic Acid), a natural plastic material sold under the name Ingeo. This 100 percent annually renewable resource is derived solely from plants, which is preferable to some customers. The EarthChoice line also includes hot cups and soup cups lined with PLA.

All of the EarthChoice PLA products are either ASTM D 6400 or 6868 certified for full composting in municipal and industrial facilities where available. Composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills.

The EarthChoice Fiber Blend Hingeware is made from a blend of wood pulp fibers. All materials used in this category are made from sustainable and renewable resources. This product line is ASTM D 6868 certified, Cedar Grove Composting approved and processed chlorine free.

Bagasse Blend Tableware, one of Pactiv’s first and strongest selling sustainable product lines, is made from Bagasse and Bamboo, both sustainable and annually renewable resources. Bagasse is left over fiber from sugarcane processing. This EarthChoice category is also ATSM D 6868 certified and compostable.

New EarthChoice PSM Cutlery is manufactured with Plastarch Material, a resin made from corn starch with more than 70 percent of the base material coming from corn.

EarthChoice recycled PET (RPET) hinged containers are made with a minimum of 25 percent recycled content material and are offered in a variety of sizes.

Rounding out the EarthChoice portfolio are TFPP Smart Lock Hinged Lid containers, which use a blend of talc, a naturally occurring mineral, with polypropylene to reduce plastic use by approximately 40 percent, and RPET Hinged Lid Containers, made from a minimum of 25 percent post consumer/industrial content.

Unlike competitive offerings, most of Pactiv’s EarthChoice products are manufactured in the U.S., which lessens the environmental impact from transportation and distribution. And, Pactiv customers can combine their EarthChoice selections with other Pactiv products for optimal truck loading.

“Pactiv’s foodservice/food packaging portfolio has long been one of the broadest in the industry, including both custom and stock products in a variety of materials,” said John McGrath. “With our EarthChoice sustainable product line, we are offering customers the latest in sustainable materials, performance and innovation.”