NCGA
Applauds Wal-Mart's Switch to PLA Packaging (10-21-05)
The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA)
applauds Wal-Mart’s
decision this week to use plastics made from corn for packaging and
other retail items.
Wal-Mart, the country’s largest retailer
and grocery seller, will begin substituting 114 million clear-plastic
clamshell containers made from polylactic acid (PLA) on Nov. 1,
according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. PLA is a polymer derived
from lactic acid, which NatureWorks derives from cornstarch. Wal-Mart
will also use PLA to make its gift cards and calling cards.
“This is a huge jump into the consumer market for PLA,” said
Nathan Fields, director of research and business development. “It
indicates that retailers are beginning to see the advantages of corn-based
products, which are domestically produced and better for the environment.”
“With this change to packaging made from corn, we will save
the equivalent of 800,000 gallons of gasoline and reduce more than
11 million pounds of greenhouse gas emission,” said Matt Kistler,
Wal-Mart vice president for product development and private brands
for the company’s Sam’s Club division, at the Sustainable
Packaging Forum in Philadelphia this week. “This is a way to
make a change, positive for the environment and for business.”
“It’s exciting to see Wal-Mart is going to use PLA for
new applications, such as the gift cards and calling cards,” Fields
said. “It’s clear that Wal-Mart is seeking price stability
through U.S. agriculture.”
The company will use PLA packaging in its
3,779 Wal-Mart, Sam’s
Club and Neighborhood Market stores.
“Wal-Mart is using PLA to reduce waste and garbage costs,
just like Network Associates Coliseum, home of the Oakland A’s
and Raiders in Oakland, Calif., which has also switched some of its
packaging to PLA,” Fields said.
PLA is produced by NatureWorks, a division of Cargill. The product
is composted easily and is recyclable. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, containers and packaging accounted for 32 percent
of municipal solid wastes by weight in 2003.