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By 2050, the global population is expected to grow by more than 25%, increasing the demand for food. But food systems today account for more than one third of global greenhouse gas emissions, and still one third of all food produced is lost or wasted.<\/p>\n
As an industry, we need to work together across the value chain, and take collective actions that can help decarbonize and transform the world\u2019s food systems, while contributing to circularity and increasing food packaging recycling.<\/p>\n
While this may seem daunting, the beverage industry has already made strides towards a more sustainable future, with even the smallest part of a package \u2014 caps and straws \u2014 playing an important role.<\/p>\n
Not only can nature-based solutions play an important role in solving the world\u2019s sustainability challenges, but they can also meet changing consumer demands. A recent McKinsey & Company survey found that approximately half of U.S. consumers express a willingness to pay more for sustainable packaging, making an investment into sustainable packaging a sound business decision.<\/p>\n
A plant-based plastic cap is one way to minimize the carbon footprint of packaging when used in place of a traditional plastic cap. But what does \u201cplant-based\u201d mean in this context?<\/p>\n
Food and beverage packaging can be derived from plant-based materials like sugarcane, which are renewable if responsibly sourced<\/a>. When this is the case, it can reduce the packaging\u2019s carbon footprint compared to that of traditional packaging materials, such as plastics derived from fossil fuels.<\/p>\n Sugarcane is a dense, water efficient and productive plant. And, like any other plant, sugarcane captures CO2\u00a0when it grows.<\/p>\n The production of 200,000 tons of sugarcane-based plastic represents a reduction of 800,000 tons of CO2\u00a0from the atmosphere. This equals the amount of annual emissions from 800,000 cars*.<\/p>\n