KC company packages guilt-free plastic alternative with new fashion line by Grammy-winning Ciara

A Kansas City company’s groundbreaking biodegradable packaging will help send shipping waste from a fashion icon’s new clothing line back to the earth, officials from Biolo announced Thursday.

LITA bags by Biolo

LITA by Ciara — The House of LR&C’s new consciously created, ready to wear collection, inspired by Grammy award-winning singer Ciara — will include sustainable packaging for all its products, using Nodax PHA — a biopolymer developed by Biolo.

“PHA is made from plants, turns into feedstock for microorganisms, and leaves nothing behind. Simple as that,” said Will Preston, CEO of Biolo, which specializes in 100-percent biodegradable bags, films, and foodservice products, including straws with more to come.

An alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, Biolo’s PHA products are certified for biodegradation in soil and marine environments, as well as home and industrial composts. They perform similarly to traditional plastics, but provide a guilt-free experience that lets consumers enjoy their purchase and not worry about creating unwanted waste, the company said.

In fact, Biolo’s products turn into plant food in 160 days or less.

Click here to learn more about Biolo.

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Straws by Biolo

Headquartered in Kansas City with more than 10 local employees, every step of the Biolo manufacturing process happens at one of the company’s four facilities (located in Missouri, Ohio and California). Biolo is a product line under Columbia Packaging Group.

Biolo has been working in partnership with Georgia-based Danimer Scientific for several years to perfect the manufacturing techniques necessary to bring PHA — a natural source of fuel for bacteria, it breaks down quickly in any bioactive environment — to the public through the form of flexible packaging, ocean safe straws, and more. Although PHA has been used by bacteria for millions of years, LITA’s partnership with BIOLO marks the first time a North American company is exclusively using PHA packaging.

“While PHA is a product of evolution and has been naturally occurring for millions of years, it is only recently that we have perfected our process for producing the biopolymer at a commercial scale,” said Don Phillips, vice of business development at Danimer Scientific, describing the proprietary process behind Nodax PHA.

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The relationship between Biolo and the fashion line was another natural pairing, the companies said.

The House of LR&C (standing for Love, Respect & Care) was created in 2020 not only to create fashion brands with sustainability in their DNA, but to redefine the way the fashion industry works, to make it inclusive, community-led, and, above all, to create large-scale positive change, according to a press release.

“It is exciting to see companies coming together to support creating positive impact,” said Therese Hayes, chief sustainability officer of The House LR&C. “This strategic partnership with Biolo reduces plastic waste and supports our goal to consider sustainability throughout our product’s life-cycle.”

Click here to explore the LITA by Ciara collection.