Organically grown fruit and vegetables are now packed in polylactide (PLA) for Austria´s Spar food stores. The company´s trays and tubular bag film are made of a 100% corn-based material produced by NatureWorks (Minnetonka, Minnesota / USA; www.natureworksllc.com). The renewable raw material developed by the former CargillDow combines the practical properties, appearance, touch and performance of petroleum-based packaging materials with increased environmental compatibility, the company claims. Compared with conventionally packed fruits, the organically grown tomatoes, apples and pears have a 10-15% longer shelf life in the renewable packaging.

Since introduction of the "Linz Loop" pilot project, launched to promote sustainable packaging technology in spring 2005, the retail chain says it has received consistently positive feedback from consumers, employees and the local press. Rigid containers and trays are supplied by thermoforming specialist ILPA (Milan / Italy), while the tubular bag film, marketed under the brand name "Biophan", comes from Treofan (Raunheim / Germany; www.treofan.com).