CHICAGO and GILBERT, Ariz., Sept.
29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra Brands (NYSE: CAG)
announced new products featuring bowls made from plant-based fibers
for Healthy Choice Power Bowls, new Hungry-Man Double Meat Bowls
and P.F. Chang's Ramen single-serve meals. By using plant-based
fibers instead of plastic, the carbon footprint of manufacturing
the bowls is reduced by 50 to 70 percent1 across select
product lines. The expansion will help to decrease Conagra's carbon
footprint by 34,117 metric tons, equivalent to avoiding the
greenhouse gas emissions of driving around the planet 3,399 times
or 84 million miles2. This progress aligns with
Conagra's January 2020 announcement
that the company is striving to make 100 percent of its plastic
packaging renewable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
The plant-based fiber bowl is designed by Footprint, a
sustainable materials science technology firm that designs
alternative solutions to single-use plastic. Conagra initially
partnered with Footprint in 2017 to develop packaging for its
Healthy Choice Power Bowls product line, which included a
first-of-its-kind bowl made from plant-based fibers that could
replace plastic alternatives. The versatile material is microwave
safe, non-stick and cooler to the touch than traditional plastic
packaging. Since introducing the packaging in 2017, Conagra has
avoided the use of more than 3.5 million pounds of plastic
packaging.
"Plant-based fiber packaging is critical to helping Conagra
Brands progress toward making 100 percent of our current plastic
packaging renewable, recyclable or compostable by 2025," said
Katya Hantel, senior director of
sustainable development at Conagra Brands. "Innovative partners
like Footprint have been invaluable in producing packaging that
supports sustainable outcomes."
These packaging solutions are driven by highly collaborative,
customized inventions from the Footprint team of materials
scientists, who worked closely with Conagra to meet the needs of
the three distinct product lines. The team is led by Troy Swope and Yoke Chung, previous Intel
engineers, who saw the opportunity to pioneer the use of
plant-based materials based on ingredients that can stand up to the
robust quality and safety that single-use plastic delivers to
consumers while eliminating plastics from reaching the
environment.
"We've been able to create solutions for Conagra that won't
sacrifice cost, quality or performance for the consumer," said
Footprint CEO Troy Swope. "Our
engineered fiber-based packaging solutions integrate with existing
product manufacturing lines for a smooth transition away from
single-use plastic. Conagra's use of plant-based fiber is proof
that any company of any size can make incredible change for the
betterment of the planet."
Conagra's current efforts to improve the sustainability of its
packaging are part of the company's broader commitment to
responsible sourcing, one of the four pillars of Conagra's
corporate social responsibility and ESG efforts.
To see how Conagra is supporting a sustainable world, see the
company's Citizenship Report. To learn more about Footprint's
plastic-free alternatives, visit www.FootprintUS.com.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc.
(NYSE: CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North
America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an
entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of
making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The
company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food
preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye®, Duncan
Hines®, Healthy Choice®, Marie Callender's®, Reddi-wip®, and
Slim Jim®, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's®
BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®, Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and Frontera®,
offer choices for every occasion. For more information,
visit www.ConagraBrands.com.
About Footprint
Footprint has a clear vision:
eliminate single-use and short-term use plastics. Footprint
designs, develops and manufactures technologies that are
biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable. We make it easy for
companies to switch out of plastic to preserve our future. We love
our oceans and our planet, that's why we are revolutionizing
industries to eliminate plastic pollution. The company was founded
by former Intel engineers Troy Swope
and Yoke Chung and employs more than 800 people. Footprint was
named on Fast Company's prestigious list of the World's 2020 50
Most Innovative Companies. In 2019, Footprint was announced a
winner of the prestigious NextGen Cup Challenge for its plant-based
alternative manufacturing process for making cups and lids. It has
already helped eliminate over 60 million pounds of plastic. The
company is based in Gilbert, Ariz.
For more information and a complete portfolio of Footprint
solutions visit www.footprintus.com.
For more information, please contact:
Tim Wrona
312-549-5400
tim.wrona@conagra.com
______________________________
1 GaBi Packaging Calculator analysis courtesy of
Footprint, accessed June 2020
2 GaBi Packaging Calculator analysis courtesy of
Footprint, accessed June 2020
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SOURCE Conagra Brands, Inc.