BERKELEY, Calif. — Archer Daniels Midland Co., Cargill, Tate & Lyle and Ingredion are among the founding members of the Plant Based Products Council, which will seek more sustainable consumer products and packaging through greater use of plant-based materials. The council was launched Jan. 29 at the California Bioresources Economy Summit in Berkeley.

The council will promote the adoption and use of products derived from renewable biomass. It will advocate for private sector programs and government policies to encourage use of renewable materials and feedstocks, including policies to reduce carbon emissions, improve water quality and soil health, and curtail solid waste destined for landfills. The Plant Based Products Council launched a database featuring more than 480 plant-based and bio-based products already on the market.

The council released polling conducted in August 2018 showing strong interest from millennials in bioplastics. The polling found 48% of millennials said they feel most guilty about their own plastic use, which compared to other resources such as paper (33%), water (31%) or how much they drive (31%). Sixty-four per cent of millennials said they were willing to use plastic alternatives, and 60% said they were surprised by the lack of alternative options to plastic.

Other companies in the council include Georgia-Pacific, WestRock-Multi Packaging Solutions, Stone Straw, Loliware, Visolis Biotechnology, Newtrient, Future iQ, Emerald Brand, Hemp Road Trip, the Hemp Industries Association and TreeFree Hemp. Making up an advisory board are GreenBlue, Californians Against Waste, the International Conservation Caucas Foundation, University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Ramani Narayan, Ph.D., of Michigan State University’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.

“Businesses and consumers alike recognize the need to solve the problem of plastic pollution that harms our environment,” said John Bode, president and chief executive officer of the Washington-based Corn Refiners Association. “The P.B.P.C. will seek plant-based solutions, bringing together government, non-profit and corporate entities to address environmental challenges while driving economic opportunity.”

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