By Kristen George

CLEMSON -- The bottles of herbs and vitamins lining the shelves at grocery stores and markets may soon be made from an environmentally sound alternative to petroleum-based plastics products.

As SCBIZ reported earlier this year, Clemson scientist Danny Roberts has developed a naturally derived compound that looks and acts like plastic, but is 100% biodegradable and recyclable, contains no petroleum and it is cost- and energy-efficient to produce.

The compound is formed using natural fibers such as cotton, flax and kenaf, a tropical plant related to hemp. The fibers are combined with polylactic acid, a plastic-like substance derived from corn.

Roberts recently returned from the Natural Products Expo West trade show in Anaheim, Calif., where he says the bottles were well received. Companies that manufacture products like vitamins, herbs and makeup expressed interest in purchasing the bottles, and other companies inquired about using the natural compound in various other plastics applications. 

“It was overwhelming. People wanted to buy the bottles at the show and I get e-mails every day from companies wanting to buy the bottles,” Roberts says. “We were the buzz of the show.”

The only problem is that Roberts and his team of scientists at Clemson aren’t yet prepared to mass produce the bottles, although they are working furiously to reach that goal.

“It’s a great problem to have,” Roberts laughs.

Roberts says he and his partners—David Gangemi, director for Clemson’s Institute for Nutraceutical Research, research scientist and mechanical engineer John Foulk of the USDA Cotton Quality Research Station and organic chemist Dennis Smith—hope to have the bottles ready to sell within four to six months.

“We’ve still got some wrinkles to iron out, but we’re very pleased with the progress we’ve made so far,” Roberts says.

Currently Roberts and his partners are working with Alpha Packaging Co. in St. Louis to manufacture the bottles. However, he says he would like to keep as much of the production of the compound as possible in South Carolina. He’s held discussions with the state Cotton Growers Association, as well as other South Carolina organizations, about purchasing materials and equipment within the state.

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