Last month, PepsiCo announced big news for product packaging and soda. The company successfully developed the world's first PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic bottle made entirely from plant-based, fully renewable resources.
This month, manufacturer of bio-based, compostable plastics Cereplast has announced a new symbol to represent bioplastics like the bottles created by Pepsi.
Bioplastics are 100% biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable, created using renewable resources like corn, tapioca, potatoes, sugar, and algae.
Unlike traditional plastics ― made using petroleum and other fossil fuels ― bioplastics support the earth by offering a reduced carbon footprint and a reduced use of fossil resources in their manufacture.
As the availability of this product packaging becomes more widespread (and I believe they will over the next couple years), it is important consumers be able to identify them...
To help with this, Cereplast held a “Make Your Mark” competition contest for designers to create a new symbol to be stamped on bioplastic products.
The competition was modeled after the 1970 contest that resulted in the globally recognized recycling symbol.
Dr. Gary Anderson, the creator of the recycling symbol, served as one of the judges for the “Make Your Mark” competition.
"Cereplast's bioplastic symbol could likely gain traction much faster than the recycling symbol I designed, as communication in today's digital landscape runs at lightning speed compared to forty years ago,” Anderson said in a press release from Cereplast.
"Petroleum-based plastics can have a devastating impact on our environment. Approximately 300 million tons of plastic are produced globally each year. At these quantities, we could wrap the entire planet several times over," said Frederic Scheer, Chairman and CEO of Cereplast, in the same press release.
"Bioplastics offer a more respectful option for our environment, and we believe that this new symbol will help provide consumers with the tools they need to make more environmentally intelligent purchasing decisions.”
The winning symbol was created by Laura Howard, a graphic design student at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. Howard was awarded $25,000 for her design.
Next time you're out grocery shopping, keep an eye out for Howard's winning logo for bioplastic packaging.
Until Next Time,
Angela Guss
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