NantBioRenewables has been selected as a winner of the 2026 IoPP AmeriStar Award in the Sustainable Packaging category for its Wave Ware™ Ocean Calcium–Containing Compostable Protein Tray, a breakthrough innovation engineered and manufactured in Gadsden, Alabama.

The AmeriStar Awards recognize the most innovative and impactful packaging solutions in the United States, and this year’s competition included submissions from major Fortune 500 companies. NantBioRenewables’ locally manufactured entry stood out for its technical performance, environmental impact, and commercial scalability.

The Wave Ware™ tray is produced using BioCal™, a proprietary biocomposite compounded in-house at NantBioRenewables. BioCal™ is made from renewable, carbon-negative Ocean Calcium Sand (aragonite) sourced from the Bahamas and blended with compostable biopolymers to create a high-performance material that significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Internal assessments and supplier data show that the composite delivers a 72 percent lower global warming potential than PET and a 66 percent reduction compared with polypropylene. The tray is engineered specifically for high‑moisture, high‑strength protein applications traditionally dominated by petroleum‑based plastics. Its performance comes from the underlying BioCal material, which is certified for industrial compostability by BPI and CMA and approved under the USDA BioPreferred Program. These material‑level certifications validate the renewable content and compostable end‑of‑life pathway, ensuring processors and retailers can adopt a lower‑impact solution without compromising durability or operational efficiency.

This award also represents a milestone for Alabama’s manufacturing economy. By compounding BioCal™ domestically and thermoforming the trays in Gadsden, NantBioRenewables is strengthening rural economic development, expanding advanced manufacturing capacity, and creating new, high-quality jobs. The company’s investment in sustainable materials production demonstrates how rural Alabama can play a leading role in the future of U.S. manufacturing.

“This award is a major win for Gadsden and Alabama manufacturing,” said Lila Karlsen McNutt, Global Sales & Marketing Director at NantBioRenewables. “We’re proving that world-class sustainable materials can be made right here in our community, supporting local jobs while solving real environmental challenges in food packaging.”

“The Wave Ware™ tray was engineered to meet the demanding requirements of fresh proteins, prepared foods, and food-service operators,” said Barbara Schreiner, Marketing & Communications Manager at NantBioRenewables. “It delivers the rigidity, moisture resistance, and cold-chain durability required for automated filling, sealing, distribution, and retail display. The tray’s hydrophobic mineral surface prevents sogginess, while its geometry ensures strong sealing performance and reliable leak resistance.”

Extensive testing—including compression, deflection, cold-chain validation, moisture exposure, and industrial composting trials—confirmed that the tray performs comparably to PET and polypropylene trays while offering a compostable end-of-life pathway.

“Wave Ware™ shows how materials science can meaningfully decouple packaging performance from fossil-based inputs,” said Kenn Budlong, Chief Operating Officer at NantBioRenewables. “By compounding BioCal™ in-house from renewable, carbon-negative material, we’re delivering a compostable solution that meets the needs of processors, retailers, and food-service operators at a commercial scale.”

The tray’s natural mineral texture and color provide a distinctive sustainability story that resonates with consumers and retailers. Its visual identity communicates environmental responsibility without requiring additional coatings or pigments, offering brands a credible alternative to conventional plastics in the protein category.

The Institute of Packaging Professionals will showcase all AmeriStar Award winners at PACK EXPO International in Chicago, where the official awards ceremony will take place on October 20. Winners will also be featured in upcoming IoPP publications and digital channels.

About NantBioRenewables

NantBioRenewables, the company behind the Wave Ware™ line of high-performance renewable foodservice products, develops eco-friendly thermoformed products made from Ocean Calcium Sand, a renewable, biobased, carbon-negative mineral that naturally forms in the ocean. BioCal-ICS compostable straws and tableware reduce the environmental impact of single-use plastics while composting into nutrient-rich material for plant growth. The company is committed to building a circular bioeconomy through sustainable product life cycles from extraction to composting. For more information, visit www.nantbiorenewables.com.

Media gallery

About The Author
Business Wire