Danimer Scientific, a developer and manufacturer of biodegradable materials, and Genpak, manufacturer of quality food packaging, are partnering to create a new line of biodegradable food containers. The eco-friendly food service items created by the two companies will help reduce the environmental impacts of non-biodegradable packaging produced annually worldwide.
Over the course of this multi-year agreement, Danimer Scientific will deliver several million pounds of biodegradable resins that Genpak will use exclusively for the manufacture of its new GenZero™ line of food packaging products. Danimer Scientific will include its signature biopolymer, Nodax™ polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), among the resins that it produces for GenZero™ food containers. Nodax™ PHA is a plant-based material that was verified as a reliable biodegradable alternative to traditional petrochemical plastics in a 2018 study led by University of Georgia (UGA) researchers and members of the UGA New Materials Institute.
“The national conversation around packaging waste has zeroed in on single-use drinking straws in recent years, as seen by the bans implemented in Seattle and other cities, but straws are only part of the equation,” said Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific. “Plastic is a universal material used in countless everyday products, especially in the food and beverage industries, so it’s imperative to broaden the conversation around the type of items we can make with biodegradable materials. That is why we are excited to work with Genpak in creating an entirely new type of eco-friendly food packaging option.”
Genpak’s expansive line of foodservice items are designed for a wide range of applications, including to-go hinged food containers, plates, bowls and platters, serving trays and two-piece food containers. The GenZero™ biodegradable products will build on the company’s focus for sustainable packaging options.
“Innovation is a core foundation of our manufacturing philosophy, and it has driven the development of some of our most durable and sustainable packaging items,” said Kevin Kelly, President at Genpak. “Partnering with Danimer Scientific provides us with the cutting-edge material we need to take the next step in our dedication to our Purpose Statement of advancing innovative packaging to enhance the human experience.”
Danimer Scientific’s Nodax™ PHA possesses seven TUV AUSTRIA certifications and statements of industrial and home compostability, is biodegradable in anaerobic soil, freshwater and marine environments and is 100% bio-based. All of Danimer Scientific’s biopolymers, including its Nodax™ PHA, are FDA approved for food contact.