Technology's Edge

The study adds that low-permeability (barrier) materials are being developed and commercialized. In addition, several new polymers based on renewable (non-petrochemical) feedstock have also been recently developed. These may stabilize the price of packaging, as they are unaffected by oil price movements. The most commercially successful polymer, which is both biodegradable and based on renewable feedstock, is polylactic acid (PLA). Pira points out that packaging materials produced from blends containing starch or cellulose materials are now being produced commercially.