Novolex makes compostable plastic beverage cups on new U.S. line

Hartsville, South Carolina-based Novolex has launched a new U.
S.
line for industrial compostable beverage cups
.
Designed for cold drinks, this clear cup is made in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and is made from the plant-based polymer polylactic acid (PLA)
.
The new line is equipped with state-of-the-art thermoforming and extrusion equipment
.

The cups will be supplied by Novolex-branded B-certified company Eco-Products, which specializes in foodservice packaging made from renewable and recycled resources
.
Sales will cover the entire North America, the Caribbean and Europe
.
Expansion to Australia and New Zealand is expected to begin shortly
.

The new Chattanooga line "will produce compostable cold drink cups in sizes ranging from 9 ounces to 24 ounces
.
These plant-based plastic cups complement Eco Products' existing line of PLA cold drink cups, which are available in 7 ounce sizes.
, 10 ounces and 32 ounces,
” said Nicole Tariku, Marketing Director of Eco Products
.
Eco Products and Novolex are very focused on developing products for industrial composting
.

PLA cups have dual sustainability benefits
.
First, the plastics that make them come from starch-based plants such as corn, sugar cane and wheat straw -- all of which are renewable resources
.
Second, the cup is certified compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI); compost made from this cup and other compostable materials can be used as a soil conditioner by gardeners, horticulturalists and commercial growers, Help new plants grow
.

In addition, industrial composting infrastructure is still emerging
.
“While more governments, companies and individuals are embracing commercial composting, the processing infrastructure required to divert food scraps and compostable packaging from landfills still lags behind demand
,” Tariku said
.

"That's why Novolex participates in an industry coalition that advocates and develops composting infrastructure, addressing core issues facing commercial composting plants such as pollution, economically viable end markets and policy solutions,
" she added
.
Organizations that Novolex participates in include the American Compost Council, the Biodegradable Products Institute, the Food Service Packaging Institute, the Sustainable Packaging Alliance and many state composting organizations
.

The company is also working with the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA) to support the development of field testing protocols
.
“Our Eco-Products business was one of the first backers of the CMA, with the company working with composting plants to test and confirm that its products decompose successfully in different types of commercial composting facilities,
” Tariku said
.
In addition, Eco-Products has affiliated with the Iowa State University Polymer and Food Protection Association to address product functionality and food safety issues
.