Consumer demand for environmentally friendly cosmetics is growing and manufacturers are looking to packaging companies to provide eco-friendly solutions. Australia-based Plantic, which makes biodegradable packaging from corn starch, will work with DuPont to produce resins and sheet materials for cosmetics, personal care and food products. As well as collaborating on product development, DuPont will market Plantic's products in North America for the first time and sell its products outside Australasia under DuPont's own brand name. DuPont's decision to work with Plantic is part of the chemical firm's broader plan to use strategic partnerships and R&D efforts to double its revenue from sustainable resources to $8 billion by 2015. As for Plantic, despite high sales growth, the eco-friendly packaging firm reported a loss of A$4.5 ($4m) for the six months ending 30 June 2007. "This agreement with DuPont will help expand the reach of its renewably sourced polymer technology around the world, and will enhance significantly the opportunities for product development for this technology, by tapping into one of the world's leading science companies," said Plantic CEO Grant Dow.
