All-New All-Plant Packaging at the Supermarket

This month Pepsi announced the production of an all-new bottle made entirely of plant material. The bottle will be made from switch grass, pine bark, corn husks and eventually orange peels, oat hulls, potato scraps from its food business. While the new bottles aren't scheduled to appear until 2012, you can get in on these other eco-packaged goods on supermarket shelves now:

In the Dairy and Snack Aisles
It looks like plastic and keeps food just as fresh, but a greener version known as corn-based PLA is made from kernels. Unlike oil-based plastic, the corn-derived kind is biodegradable-which means it will eventually break down into harmless natural compounds and take some pressure off our landfills.
Spot it! Snyder's of Hanover's organic pretzel thins bags, Stonyfield multipack yogurt cups

In the Bottled-Drink Aisle
Companies are replacing plastic packaging with a sugar-derived version made from molasses and sugar cane. One version from the Coca-Cola Company, known as PlantBottle, is 30 percent plant-based and fully recyclable, so it cuts the company's use of petroleum (a nonrenewable ingredient) and reduces its greenhouse gas emissions.
Spot it! Dasani bottles, single-serve Odwalla bottles

In the Coffee and Cereal Aisles
Not only does repurposed paperboard save trees, but it's also less expensive to produce than the fresh stuff. Today, companies are using the material in unexpected ways, like as replacements for steel coffee canisters.
Spot it! Maxwell House coffee canisters, Kellogg's cereal boxes

By Elizabeth Barker

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