With Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturers leveraging sustainable packaging as a differentiator, the dimensions on which sustainability is measured continue to become more complex.  While industry scorecards (e.g. Walmart, Sustainable Packaging Coalition) may eventually offer a standardized approach, the number of variables in the sustainability equation and the size of the packaging market will encourage the development of new technologies and new technology marketing.

The question of which plastic offers the most sustainable strategy for food and beverage packaging is particularly complex.  Lux Research recently published the figure below comparing various "conventional" plastics to common bioplastics, including PLA.  Their analysis appropriately includes both measures of effectiveness and economics in addition to ecological.  As discussed in our recap to last year's Michigan State Packaging Conference, definitions of sustainability must include how effective the packaging is in delivering the packaged product to the consumer.  For example, plastic used for beverage packaging must deliver the appropriate gas and light barrier performance, reclosability, and mechanical functionality needed by the consumer.  A more biodegradable package or lower carbon footprint package that does not perform will result in a higher amount of wasted product - which should lower the sustainability score for a product line.  

Coca Cola recently began shipping product in its "Plant Bottle" design that incorporates a blend of bioplastic with conventional PET packaging.  This approach is a more practical short term solution to improving sustainability through the use of bioplastics.

AEB's Blu sterilization technology can help reduce the amount of plastic used in beverage bottles by removing heat from the sterilization process.  The heat required by conventional sterilization technologies stresses the integrity of bottles and forces package designers to use more raw material in order to provide additional mechanical integrity.  While the use of electron beam sterilization with bioplastic packaging has yet to be investigated, the potential exists to combine the benefits of creating lightweight packaging with the use of bioplastics.