(Plastics Today) -- AT&T joins Procter & Gamble and Heinz in an effort to use plastic derived from sugarcane.
The telecommunications provider is now using Klockner Pentaplast's TerraPET films for all of its branded wireless accessories.
Klockner Pentaplast's TerraPET films are made in part from sugarcane, which can allow customers to replace fossil fuel based material with up to 30% plant based material.
"The TerraPET film is sourced from ethanol harvested from sugarcane. Since sugarcane is a semi-perennial crop, the same plant can harvest and re-grown for up to seven years.
Nancy Ryan, corporate communications group director for Klockner Pentaplast, told PlasticsToday TerraPET films have the same performance properties as standard APET films.
The TerraPET films can be used for food and general-purpose thermoformed packages, such as blisters, clamshells, and trays, as well as non-thermoformed applications, including transparent boxes and windows, box lids, and rounds.
AT&T became the first U.S. telecom company to use this type of plastic in its packaging. P&G began using sugarcane-based plastics for some of its products, and Heinz announced it would license The Coca-Cola Company's PlantBottle technology to use for its ketchup packaging.