The sustainable technology innovator open its South Carolina facility for the production of its 100% compostable, 100% plant-based and cost-competitive biopolymer straws.
Vancouver, British Columbia – October 21, 2021 – Evanesce, a sustainable technology innovator driven to accelerate the adoption of sustainable and economically viable packaging solutions, today opens its first U.S. production facility in Hampton County, South Carolina. With the launch, the company not only hits a milestone in its global expansion plans but also addresses the worldwide shortage of eco-friendly bioplastic products due to overseas shipping delays. By ushering production into the U.S., Evanesce is set to truly disrupt the packaging industry by producing price competitive, 100% plant-based and 100% compostable single-use products including straws, cutlery, and take-out containers.
Spread across 15,000 sq ft, the sprawling new facility is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery that will produce eco-friendly food service products. Using renewable resources such as corn starch, Evanesce’s best-in-class biopolymer products are an affordable alternative to plastic and other incumbents. The facility currently has the ability to produce millions of compostable straws per day. These straws are at par or cheaper than paper straws, offer significantly improved durability, and commercially compost within 90 days.
“The opening of our first U.S.-based manufacturing facility in South Carolina is an exciting milestone in our growth plan. Being adjacent to I-95, our facility allows us to seamlessly service North America,” said Douglas Horne, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Evanesce, “South Carolina is ripe for industrial disruption and our investment in Hampton County could not have been possible without the support of the State and the County.”
Evanesce is ready to inspire big change by delivering innovative and sustainable technology solutions to replace single-use plastics and Styrofoam. In addition to their line of biopolymer products, Evanesce is also stepping up investments for their patented Molded Starch Technology that upcycles food waste to produce 100% plant-based, and 100% compostable sustainable packaging at almost half the cost of other eco-friendly alternatives available in the market. Production of Molded Starch products including meal trays, meat trays, containers, and cups are expected in 2022.
“When Evanesce decided to locate its new facility in Hampton County, we knew it would be incredibly impactful to both the local community and throughout South Carolina. Evanesce’s commitment of $17 million and 78 new jobs was only the beginning of our partnership. This great company shows that, together, we can tackle the growing problem of environmental waste with innovative solutions that are compostable, commercially viable, and cost-competitive,” shared Harry M. Lightsey III, Secretary of Commerce, South Carolina, and guest of honor of the event.
The company is set to expand its operations further in the U.S., starting with a new 114,000 sq ft facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The facility will include multiple straw lines, molded starch lines, thermo-formers, and lab space.
“The expansion of our U.S. manufacturing operations enables Evanesce to address the current supply chain challenges for eco-friendly packaging into a major opportunity by starting production of our innovative sustainable solutions,” Horne added.
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About Evanesce
Evanesce is accelerating the adoption of compostable, plant-based food service and packaging solutions in the global market. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, Evanesce designs, develops and manufactures sustainable packaging solutions that are certified compostable, commercially scalable and cost-competitive using the latest advancements in material science. Manufactured in the USA, our plant-based compostable foodservice and packaging solutions include Evanesce Biopolymers and Evanesce® Molded Starch technology. Our patented Evanesce® Molded Starch technology is a complete replacement for expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam packaging, commonly known as Styrofoam™ and will be commercially available in 2022. It is made with upcycled plant-based by-products, is home compostable and decomposes in significantly less than 90 days. Evanesce is passionate about delivering environmentally-friendly solutions that are affordable and inspire change that contributes to a healthier planet. Learn more at evanesce.com.