Chemistry, Materials & Packaging
Cascadian Farm Launches First Bio-Based Cereal Box Liner

Cascadian Farm, makers of more than 75 organic products, yesterday announced that it has introduced its first-ever cereal box liner made from renewable plant sources.

The company says its Cinnamon Crunch cereal is now packaged in an inner bag made from up to 57 percent certified plant-based material. Cascadian Farm says this new liner is the latest among its various sustainability initiatives that support its mission of helping to shape a better world.

"At Cascadian Farm, we know that every choice we make can help shape a better world now and for the future," said Jennifer Jorgenson, marketing director for Cascadian Farm. "A desire to protect our Earth's resources led us to develop this groundbreaking inner bag."

Packaging and sustainability experts at Cascadian Farm developed the plant-based liner with the help of leading sustainable packaging developers. The plant-based liner is a key initiative by the brand to utilize renewable resources. Using plant-based resources that can quickly and naturally be replenished allows the Cascadian Farm brand to take a large step towards being as closely aligned as possible with the land.

Seventy-eight percent of U.S. consumers are now buying green products and services, up from 69 percent in 2012, according to the 5th Annual Tork Sustainability Survey. Cascadian Farm says it wants to offer customers products that meet their desire for more sustainable choices.

To help communicate the environmental benefits of the new plant-based liner to shoppers, Cascadian Farm has introduced a new design for its 100 percent recycled paperboard Cinnamon Crunch box, which features graphics and messaging about the inner bag. The box features the "We're Growing a Better Package" logo that states the inner bag is made of up to 57 percent plant-based material, and the side of the box features a USDA certification noting that the package is bio-based.

In addition to the introduction of the new bio-based liner, Cascadian Farm says it also follows the guidelines and regulations of organic farming.

The company says organic farming methods help protect the environment by:

· Not polluting groundwater, rivers, lakes, and oceans with synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

· Reducing soil erosion.

· Improving soil quality.

· Increasing the diversity of wildlife on and near farms.

· Not exposing farm workers to synthetic pesticides.

Cascadian Farm says its Cinnamon Crunch cereal with the plant-based liner is now available nationwide at most mainstream supermarkets and select natural food stores.

A recent report from the Center for Culinary Development (CCD) Innovation and Packaged Facts found that a growing consumer awareness of the vulnerable state of the global environment and food supply, along with increased education about ecologically sound foods, will lead to a long-term increase in environmentally conscious eating.