P&G Pilots Green Sugarcane Packaging

The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) plans to userenewable, sustainable, sugarcane-derived plastic on selected packaging for itsPantene Pro-V, CoverGirl and Max Factor brands.

Sugarcane-derived plastic is unlike traditional plastic,which is made from non-renewable petroleum. The new material is made in aprocess that transforms sugarcane into high-density polyethylene plastic, asubstance commonly used for product packaging. P&G says the substance is100-percent recyclable in existing municipal recycling facilities.

P&G will source the sugarcane-derived plastic fromBraskem SA, a company that manufactures the material using ethanol made fromsustainably grown Brazilian sugarcane. The pilot will be rolled out globallyover the next two years. The first products are expected to hit the shelvesnext year.