Editor’s Note: Is plant-based packaging that far fetched? According to Rocco Papaila, Senior VP, PepsiCo Advanced Research maybe not. The environmental benefits of replacing petroleum products with bio-based substitutes are clear: they could sequester carbon dioxide, put less burden on landfills and, in some cases, even break down faster. But, bioplastics currently make up less than one percent of the U.S. plastics market. So, while the industry is excited about the potential, there are practical challenges yet to address.
