HLP Klearfold Unveils PlantBox(R), a More Sustainable Klearfold(R) Plastic Folding Carton Made From Bio-PET

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jun 30, 2014) - PlantBox^® is a new, premium-quality plastic folding carton made from box-grade bio-PET (bio-based polyethylene terephthalate), up to 30% of which comes from plant-based sources. PlantBox cartons are available exclusively from HLP Klearfold, the leading global supplier of visual packaging.

All PET is made up of 30% monoethylene glycol (MEG) and 70% terephthalic acid (PTA). But with bio-PET, the MEG component is derived from the renewable agricultural crop, sugarcane, thus reducing the consumption of fossil fuel-based resources. Bio-PET resin has all of the same characteristics and performance as 100% petroleum-based PET and is also as recyclable as petroleum-based PET.

HLP Klearfold's bio-PET resin is produced by Toyota Tsusho, a major supplier of Bio-PET resin. Marketed under the GLOBIO^™ brand, Toyota Tsusho's bio-PET is suitable for use in the automotive, beverage, and apparel industries. The material can be used for blow molding, injection molding, thermoforming, and sheet extrusion.

To better manage PlantBox quality and its bio-PET supply chain, HLP Klearfold produces PlantBox bio-PET sheet material on its own custom extruders. According to Steve Frazier, President of HLP Klearfold, "Our PlantBox cartons have the same the appearance, quality, and performance as our renowned Klearfold^® PET cartons. In fact, they are indistinguishable."

In addition to PlantBox, HLP Klearfold also offers another more sustainable plastic carton option -- Klearfold folding cartons made from RPET (recycled content PET) made with 30% postconsumer recycled content. Frazier notes "PlantBox expands our technology leadership role in visual packaging as it expands our traditional plastic folding carton offerings to more renewable alternatives." PlantBox cartons are already available for commercial production.

Both PlantBox and Klearfold RPET cartons are made using HLP Klearfold's proprietary Soft Crease^® scoring technology. Soft creasing uses RF (radio frequency) energy to cause a controlled displacement of material from score areas. This technology results in more uniform creases that offer less folding resistance. PlantBox and RPET cartons fold more cleanly, maintain their crisp shape, are more durable, and provide superior performance in both hand-fill and automated filling applications.

For more information on PlantBox, contact: HLP Klearfold, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 808, New York, NY 10038, (888) 457-7225, www.hlpklearfold.com.