P&G Is Sweet on Sustainable Packaging

The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) unveiled plans to use renewable, sustainable, sugarcane-derived plastic on selected packaging on its Pantene Pro-V, Covergirl and Max Factor brands. Sugarcane-derived plastic is a significant development in sustainable packaging because it is made from a renewable resource, unlike traditional plastic, which is made from non-renewable petroleum.

The new material is made in an innovative process which transforms sugarcane into high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, a type commonly used for product packaging. It remains 100% recyclable in existing municipal recycling facilities.

“P&G’s commitment to use renewable bio-derived plastic in its global beauty and grooming product packaging is an important step forward in its efforts to improve the environmental profile of its products,” said Dr. Jason Clay, senior vice president of market transformation of World Wildlife Fund, U.S. “We applaud this announcement as part of their leadership in finding innovative solutions to the sustainability challenges facing the world today.”

By launching this renewable packaging on some of its global beauty brands, P&G will leverage its scale to deliver meaningful environmental improvements. P&G will source the sugarcane-derived plastic from Braskem SA, who manufactures the material using ethanol made from sustainably-grown Brazilian sugarcane.

The pilot will be rolled out globally over the next two years, with the first products expected to be on shelf in 2011.