Nextgen Vending to Distribute Earthpure Organics PLA Eco-Water Bottles

Earthpure Organics, a sister company of Nextgen Vending has launched a new line of renewable, biodegradable PLA water bottles called Eco-Water bottles.

The new 16.9 oz. water bottles will be distributed nationally by Nextgen Vending. 

Nextgen Vending specializes in delivering organic snack and beverage products to schools, hospitals, airports, fitness centers, corporate facilities and other retail markets via custom vending kiosks.

The Eco-Water bottle is made from a renewable resource, corn based PLA,  that is also fully offset with EPA/ BEF (Bonneville Environmental Foundation) wind power “Green Tags” – the bottle is fully biodegradable, recyclable, and fully carbon offset.

“We are extremely proud to be the first vending operator in the United States to offer a socially responsible choice for water bottles” says Paul Frantellizzi, managing partner of Earthpure Organic.

“This corn-based PLA bio-bottle with the addition of a 100% carbon offset commitment, is a compelling first step toward resolving growing concerns about petroleum based bottles overwhelming our landfills”.

Earthpure's Eco-Water bottle joins North Carolina's Primo Water as the only two known companies using PLA for individual water bottle packaging in the US.

Comments

[Helen Hughes]

One school of thought (and trials to date support this) is that PLA would disrupt the reprocessing stream for PET bottles so the statement around the bottle being fully biodegradeable AND recyclable could potentially be contradictory. Perhaps this is incorrect or is it that new technology has been used which means that the reprocessing stream is not disrupted? In fact it may be that this is the case simply for UK and that the US has different techniques. Can anyone shed light on this?

Also in being biodegradable, is it therefore certified for composting (and in a home composting environment) and to a specific standard? And is there a specific collection route for this particular material for industrial recovery, where home composting is not an option? If sent to landfill, there's a concern that it wouldn't be given the correct conditions to biodegrade.

Would be very interested in hearing further comment on this material application, particularly in bottle format, to understand developments in the area.

Thanks

[Suresh]

There is no escaping that our health - both individually and as a society - is directly linked to the health of our environment. So at Bluehouse, we passionately believe that what surrounds your body is just as important to your well-being as what you put into it. We offer you the confidence that the things we bring into your life are good for you, good for your family, good for your home, and good for the planet.
For more detail please check http://www.bluehouselife.com/

[Andrew Watkins]

I'm curious as to the possible carcinogenic effects of biodegradable plastics like this. Does anyone know if there is any work being done to see if they are comparable to traditional plastics?

Just curious.

[jeff]

This product is a greenwash - I am a beverage entrepreneur and have studied PLA (corn) resin for years (with the hope of doing a product with it), and it is not the solution, and their statements are misleading, and potentially in violation of the FTC green guides. The material is not recyclable in the current plastic recycling stream - it actually contaminates the other recyclables, doing more harm then good. The material is not fully biodegradable - it only will biodegrade if placed in a commercial composting facility (only available to a tiny % of the population)... it is most likely to go into a landfill where it will not biodegrade. It also uses a food crop which is actually contributing to the increases in food prices (along with ethanol), and in some regions they are cutting down forests to plant corn, actually resulting in increased global warming... the PLA material is also susceptible to melting under high temperature, and requires far more material than conventional plastic to make the same bottle - effectively offsetting any theoretically reduction in energy use or emissions on a per bottle basis.... Unfortunately the only thing green about water bottles made from PLA, is the extra money they are charging you...