Genera breaks ground on $350-million biobased packaging plant

In Tennessee, a producer of compostable packaging solutions has broken ground on a $350-million expansion of its Vonore Sustainable Biomaterials Campus.

Genera’s products are made from locally grown regenerative grasses. The expansion adds more than 150,000 square feet to Genera’s existing facility and will house more than 60 robotic thermoforming machines, a fleet of autonomously guided vehicles, and automated packaging lines.

The new capacity will begin coming online in the first quarter of 2024 and create 230 jobs.

“Genera has grown to become the largest domestic manufacturer of circular, compostable packaging solutions and this expansion will enable us to further scale and bring our sustainable packaging solutions to more brands and consumers,” said Ben Mascarello, CEO, Genera. “As our capacity increases, we look forward to expanding our work with brand owners, farmers and landowners and continuing to lead the transition to a biobased economy.”