Sustainability

Genera’s mission to Regenerate the Earth® brings single-use packaging and bioproducts into a circle of sustainability.
We grow carbon-negative grasses which are transformed into useful products; after use, they are designed to return to the earth as nutrient-rich compost . . . where the cycle of growth begins again.

Grow

Genera’s roots go back to the farm and rural communities. Our sustainability story starts with the perennial grasses we grow in partnership with farmers and landowners on land close to our facility in rural East Tennessee. Our native Switchgrass and Giant Miscanthus grass often is grown on under-utilized land, allowing our partners to generate additional income; supporting local farms and boosting rural communities.

Sustainability impact

These perennial grasses have deep, complex root systems that are ideal for storing carbon in the soil; 1½ tons of carbon per acre per year. Their root structures also help stabilize the soil, increase moisture levels, improve soil filtration, retain nutrients and even repair degraded soils.

sustainability impact

By converting some of that pulp into molded fiber products in one seamless process, we avoid the energy intensive steps of drying pulp and shipping it long distances for converting.

TRANSFORM

As a fully integrated manufacturer, we process the grass fiber crops into pulp, bioproducts and thermoformed packaging all in one location. Our mild pulping process requires less energy, water and chemicals than wood-based pulp process.

USE

Single-use products are in demand more than ever, but today’s consumers are looking more closely at the end of life impact their purchases have on the earth. They are choosing products and brands that align with their values.

Sustainability impact

Our products pass ASTM D6868 testing protocols and are BPI certified compostable.

sustainability impact

True circularity means delivering finished compost made from molded fiber packaging and food scraps directly to the fields.

COMPOST

In this phase, we are uniquely suited to deliver on a true closed loop system by adding finished compost to our fields. We work with local composters to understand how our products break down in actual composting operations. This provides a feedback loop to our development team to ensure that our packaging works efficiently through composting processes. Further, we are working to understand how we can increase the use of compost on the fields we manage and those of our farming partners.

Sustainability Through
Transparent Supply Chains

Taken together, our low-intensity process and our integrated biorefining model allow us to produce pulp, bioproducts and molded fiber products that are commercially compostable, recyclable (where appropriate facilities exist), and have a lower carbon footprint than petroleum-based plastics, foam packaging and even products made from wood or recycled fibers.