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Green Packaging SDN BHD (GP), and EarthShell Corporation have released details of GPís capital investment in equipment to produce EarthShell Packaging noodle bowls, designed with the environment in mind. Green Packaging, a licensed manufacturer of EarthShell Packaging, has also agreed to minimum 2003 sales targets in Asia. Green Packaging has committed more than US$10 million dollars for new manufacturing equipment to be installed in its Malaysian facility. Initial production units are being tested, and will be commercially ready soon, with the facility in Malaysia scheduled to be in production during the second quarter of 2003.
The GP Malaysian facility will have a minimum of five new production lines, which will produce at least three sizes of noodle bowls. The equipment will be delivered with performance guarantees from equipment manufacturers. These lines have the ability to produce approximately one billion noodle bowls per year. GP is committed to ramping up to a minimum target sales level of US$50 million per year in select Asian markets. ìOur investment of significant capital is based on our analysis that a viable and lucrative market exists in the Asian marketplace for environmentally preferable food service disposables such as EarthShell Packaging,î said Datuk Dr. Philip Ling, chairman of Green Packaging SDN BHD.
Green Packaging is a sister company to Green Earth Packaging, which yesterday announced a similar capital commitment for the production of plates and bowls for certain market segments in the U.S. ìGreen Packaging and Green Earth Packaging are focused on establishing a leadership position in bringing EarthShellís new and revolutionary technology to select customers within their licensing areas,î said Vincent J. Truant, president and chief operating officer of EarthShell Corporation. ìTheir manufacturing ability and go-to-market skills will help accelerate the availability of EarthShell Packaging in the Asian and U.S. marketplace.î
All the EarthShell sandwich containers, plates and bowls are designed with the environment in mind.
Developed over many years using a ìlife cycle inventoryî and in consultation with leading environmental experts, EarthShell products reduce the environmental burdens of rigid food service packaging through the careful selection of raw materials, processes and suppliers. The products are made primarily from natural limestone and potato starch. The new packaging poses substantially fewer risks to wildlife than polystyrene foam packaging because it biodegrades when exposed to moisture in nature, physically disintegrates in water when crushed or broken, and can be composted in a commercial facility (where available) or in your backyard.
In addition, the company has recently introduced flexible packaging in the form of sandwich wraps that also have been developed using a ìlife cycle inventory.î Like Earth Shellís rigid packaging, the wraps also biodegrade when exposed to moisture and bacteria in nature and can be composted in a commercial facility.
