NextGen Selects Ulterion for Advanced Solutions Program

Ulterion coatings from Jain Chem Ltd. of Taylors, S.C., has been selected as a participant in the NextGen Consortium's advanced solutions program to foster sustainable cup solutions for the food and beverage industry. The NextGen Consortium, a multiyear consortium of food and beverage service leaders, managed by Closed Loop Partners, with founding partners Starbucks and McDonald's, is searching for solutions that eliminate the entry of fiber-based cups into landfills. 

“Jain Chem was selected to participate in the advanced solutions program because we recognized their importance in further developing the sustainable cup ecosystem," said Daniel Liswood, project director of the NextGen Consortium at Closed Loop Partners, in a statement.

"In our first major product rollout, over 3 million Ulterion-coated paper cups have been sold by a major fast-food chain with zero complaints," said Jain Chem Sales Manager Gil Sherman in a statement. "That's great news for brand owners and our environment."

It's estimated that if 100 percent of paper cups were converted to Ulterion globally, it would eliminate 450 million pounds of low-density polyethylene production and 5.2 billion polyethylene terephthalate bottles from the landfill and marine waste streams annually.

"We are committed to fostering a circular economy through the adoption of Ulterion coatings, a range of highly sustainable coatings for paper and paperboard packaging," said Jain Chem CEO Manoj Jain in a statement. "Because Ulterion coatings convert plastic bottle waste into non-plastic, recyclable materials, we can divert billions of plastic bottles from the landfill and marine waste streams annually. Cups and other packaging coated with Ulterion are 100 percent repulpable, recyclable and do not inhibit compostability, which will divert millions of pounds of waste from landfills to the recycling stream."