It looks, feels, and acts like clear plastic, but in actuality, it’s corn. Well, a 100 percent biodegradable corn resin, at least. “Corntainers,” created by Cargill Dow subsidiary NatureWorks, have replaced traditional deli counter plastic food boxes at Wild Oats, a 77-store natural food retailer whose customers prefer all-natural containers they know can be commercially composted into organic soil. Maize-based packaging has been a European staple for three years with Italian food retailer IPER, and Pennsylvania candy maker JoEL wraps its hard candies in a corn-based film. Looks like someday you’ll be asked, “Paper, plastic, or corn?”
— Laura Daily