About this article
In our first edition of Verive Talk Shorts, we visited Green Serendipity, a bioplastics hub in Amsterdam, to talk to bioplastics and circular packaging expert Caroli Buitenhuis.
27 Feb 2025
4 min
Nerea Tarrero
Exploring bioplastics at Green Serendipity
In our first edition of Verive Talk Shorts, we visited Green Serendipity at the Bioplastics Hub in Amsterdam. Its founder, Caroli Buitenhuis, welcomed us to share her expertise on bioplastics and circular packaging—a field she has worked in for over 20 years. Through her projects, Caroli actively promotes biobased materials and drives change in the industry.
At Verive, our signature salad containers and soup cups are lined with PLA (polylactic acid), a biobased coating. But what does that mean? We sat down with Caroli to discuss its impact and future. Read on or watch the videos below to learn more!
Understanding bioplastics vs. fossil-based plastics
Traditional plastics contribute significantly to CO₂ emissions because extracting and burning fossil fuels releases carbon stored underground into the atmosphere. In contrast, bioplastics leverage plant-based carbon, which is naturally absorbed and stored by plants, creating a more circular carbon cycle.
The benefits of PLA-coated packaging
“This Verive container is paper-based and has a biobased coating made of PLA—polylactic acid. This material is not only biobased but also biodegradable.” – Caroli Buitenhuis
Our PLA-coated packaging offers multiple end-of-life options:
- Composting: It can break down into quality compost.
- Anaerobic digestion: Can generate new building blocks for PLA.
- Paper recycling: If clean, it can be recycled as virgin fiber (please note that recycling possibilities differ per country and region).
Unlike conventional polyethylene-coated cups, PLA does not leave behind microplastics in recycling streams.
The future of packaging: moving beyond fossil-based materials
“Policies are set. We are moving away from fossil-based materials. In the future, we will only use carbon from biomass, CO₂, and recycled materials.” – Caroli Buitenhuis
Retailers, brands, and governments are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of plastic. With new policies and innovations, the packaging industry is shifting towards sustainable, plant-based alternatives.
Caroli predicts a rise in tree-free fibers—materials sourced from waste streams or fast-growing plants like tomato stems or bamboo—allowing trees to be used for more durable applications like biobased buildings instead of single-use packaging.
What is Verive Talk?
At Verive, we stay ahead of EU legislation and emerging materials, with transparency, innovation and education as our core values. Through webinars and videos, Verive Talks consolidates our commitment to providing the best food packaging solutions for today and the future.
Stay tuned for more Verive Talk Shorts!
