Seaweed-lined to-go containers, Pepsi’s molded pulp 6-pack rings, Hydrogen-powered Arctic Station, “Infinite” toothbrush, and more: The Digest’s Top 10 Innovations for the week of March 5th

Sit back and just imagine, hanging out at the new International Arctic Station that runs on solar, wind, and hydrogen power, sipping on a Pepsi 6-pack that came in molded pulp rings, eating lunch from a seaweed lined food container, wearing your cool Skechers kicks made with tire king Goodyear’s soybean oil-based rubber technology, then brushing your teeth after lunch with a biobased “infinite” closed loop toothbrush…sounds great doesn’t it? It’s not even a dream, it’s just this week’s Top 10 Innovations!

In today’s Digest, get the latest news on these innovations and others like boosted production of biobased epichlorohydrin, operations beginning on a biobased methanol plant in Sweden, and more!

#1 Pepsi trials molded pulp six-pack rings

In California, beverage giant PepsiCo is trialing the use of molded pulp material to replace the plastic rings used in distribution of 6-packs.

The company will replace the plastic rings on 7.5-ounce packages of Pepsi and Sierra Mist for four weeks in the Sacramento area.

While the traditional plastic rings are recyclable, the molded pulp replacements are recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable.

“This test is just one of many that will ultimately help us scale solutions to achieve these goals,” Emily Silver, vice president of innovation and marketing capabilities at PepsiCo Beverages North America, told FoodNavigator-USA. “In Sacramento, we will be testing for benefits and drawbacks of each option, including functionality; it’s important that the functionality of the options are at parity with our current plastic 6-pack rings. The insights we gain from this market test will be used to inform our long-term strategy.”
More on the story, here.