Washington — Danimer Scientific and PepsiCo Inc. are joint winners of the 2018 Innovation in Bioplastics award.
The two companies developed the next generation of bio-based and compostable flexible packaging using Danimer 24365B and Danimer 01112 resins.
Pepsi uses the resins in a new compostable snack bag that has the right balance of sustainability, performance and cost, according to the award sponsor, the Bioplastics division of the Washington-based Plastics Industry Association.
Danimer Scientific, formerly known as Meredian Holdings Group Inc., is a Bainbridge, Ga.-based bioresin manufacturer.
The annual Innovation in Bioplastics Award goes to companies applying bioplastics to innovative, purposeful product design.
The new Danimer resins are blends of biopolymers and mineral filler that can be processed on blown film lines for improved economics. The materials are being pilot tested in the United States and Chile, and will be tested in India later this year.
"As the industry becomes more environmentally conscious, we look forward to continuing our partnership with PepsiCo to develop quality, compostable and biodegradable plastic products for a wide variety of applications," said Scott Tuten, chief marketing officer at Danimer Scientific, in a news release.
Danimer and PepsiCo are collaborating on a third-generation chip bag that is based on Danimer's PHA technology and will be fully biodegradable in home-composters.
"PepsiCo and Danimer have a shared vision for a future of food packaging that is more sustainable without compromising food safety or quality," said Garry Kohl, Senior Director R&D Global Packaging Innovation for Snacks & Foods at PepsiCo.
PepsiCo has a goal of making all of its packaging recyclable, compostable or biodegradable by 2025, he said.