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Ecopac Production & Disposal Facts

Production Facts

The current generation of Ecopac is made of NatureWorks(R) PLA (corn-based plastic), with added strength modifiers. The strength modifiers are non-toxic and non-compostable. This means that Ecopac is not currently compostable. For now, the main environmental benefits of Ecopac are on the production side of the process, rather than the disposal side.

NatureWorks® PLA is an annually renewable resource-based plastic. This means that the source material for PLA (corn) can be regrown every year, as opposed to the millions of years it takes to create oil, which is the base material for most plastics.

NatureWorks® PLA uses up to 68% fewer fossil fuels in production compared to traditional plastics. NatureWorks® is currently working to reduce the use of non-renewable resources to ZERO within 5-8 years. One of their goals is to use wind power as well as the burning of their own waste materials for energy, rather than using power from the grid.

NatureWorks® uses corn as the base material for PLA. Because of this they have been able to achieve a neutral carbon dioxide emission rating. The carbon dioxide that is emitted during the production of PLA is equal to the amount that was absorbed from the air by the corn during its growth. This creates an environmentally neutral carbon dioxide emission.

Disposal Facts

Ecopac can be disposed of by traditional waste management methods such as landfill and incineration. Future Ecopac packaging will be municipally and industrially compostable and recyclable.

When NatureWorks® PLA is incinerated, the carbon dioxide released is, in effect used to grow the corn for the next batch of PLA. This is part of the neutral carbon dioxide emission rating, unlike petroleum

Ecopac is technically recyclable, but municipal facilities are not yet accepting it. Once enough people begin using PLA, municipal facilities will begin to integrate PLA into their regular pick-up services.

One of our packaging goals is to make Ecopac fully compostable, reducing its environmental impact even more by closing the packaging life-cycle loop. No more landfill space will go towards holding our packaging. No more energy will need to be spent recycling and processing discarded plastics.

Ecopac corn-based packaging

Ecopac Packaging

NatureWorks® PLA is made from an annually renewable resource — field corn, instead of petroleum. Its sources can be regrown every year, as opposed to the millions of years it takes to create oil.

Compared to traditional plastics, NatureWorks® PLA uses up to 68% less fossil fuels to produce. NatureWorks® PLA has achieved zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Ecopac can be disposed of by all traditional waste management methods such as incineration, landfill and mechanical recycling. Future Ecopac packaging will be municipally and industrially compostable as well.

Printed Materials

As a part of our ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability, all of our corporate materials (brochures, handbooks, business cards) are printed on 100% post-consumer paper with vegetable-based inks.