NatureWorks® PLA Popular with Customers: Delhaize Expands Environmentally – Friendly Packaging Program

Following successful trials, 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.

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."

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.”

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