Oct 24, 2005 10:43 AM, from staff and wire reports

At the 2005 Sustainable Packaging Forum, NatureWorks LLC and the Sam's Club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc co-presented the results of a year-long program to introduce NatureWorks PLA in fresh-cut produce packaging at Sam's Club and Wal-Mart Super Centers. The clear, thermoformed packaging will begin to appear in stores nationwide beginning in November 2005, starting with fresh-cut fruit, herbs, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts.

“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 emissions from polluting our environment,” said Matt Kistler, vice-president–product development and private brands with Sam's Club.

Made from Midwestern field corn, NatureWorks PLA is a bio-based plastic that can be used in packaging applications from clear food containers to beverage bottles. The material provides the convenience, look, feel, and performance of petroleum-based plastic packaging—while being made from a 100% annually renewable natural resource.