Green Dot Bioplastics Inc. marked the start of construction on its expansion project at the Green Dot facility in Onaga, Kan.
In 2011, the company launched with a single product called Terratek Flex. Building on the success of that product, which was also the world's first biodegradable elastomeric rubber, 10 years later the company has grown into a full-scale production facility, complete with a development lab and a portfolio of sustainable products including biocomposites, biodegradables, elastomers and natural-fiber-reinforced polymers.
Green Dot is continuing to expand its product portfolio, and it will introduce two new product categories for use in compostable packaging applications, including film.
To accommodate this growth, the company is now starting construction to add floor space to house additional equipment and warehousing. The expansion will allow the company to double its production capacity.
The project is being led by Kansas-based KBS Constructors Inc., experts in critical environment construction, and it is expected to be completed in September 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Green Dot CEO Mark Remmert, Director of Research and Development Mike Parker, Engineering Manager Amanda Childress, Plant Manager Bill Barnell and KBS Constructors President Dan Foltz. Lydia Kinkade, co-founder of iiM, and Dave Nelson represented Green Dot's board of directors and investors, respectively.
"Green Dot has enjoyed exceptional growth during our first decade, and we are poised for even bigger things in our next decade," Remmert said. "This expansion comes in advance of adding two new product categories to our portfolio of sustainable plastics and effectively doubles our production capacity. It's an exciting time to be in bioplastics."
Headquartered in Emporia, Kan., Green Dot Bioplastics Inc. is a full-service bioplastics company. Its Terratek line of bioplastics has been developed to meet the growing demand for bio-based and compostable materials with fewer of the drawbacks associated with traditional plastics.