ABOUT GENERA

• Founded in 2008, Tennessee-based Genera is a vertically integrated pulp and packaging company which produces agricultural-based pulp and Moulded Fibre products.
• The company partners with regional farmers to create its Earthable Fiber range. It includes market pulp, suitable for producing food packaging; lignin co-products, which can be used for animal feeds, dispersants and plasticisers; and USDA-certified, bio-based, compostable moulded fibre products such as bowls, plates and clamshell takeaway containers.
• Genera’s tableware is compostable in commercial composting facilities per ASTM standards. It is dye-free, chlorine and bleach-free, BPA-free and prop 65-compliant. It is also microwave safe and has liquid and oil resistance to both hot and cold foods.
• In July 2022, Genera acquired MxG Fibre, expanding its packaging portfolio. While operating independently, MxG Fibre developed a proprietary system to turn miscanthus, also known as elephant grass, into pulp.
• The hardy perennial crop was chosen for its high levels of carbon sequestration. It can capture 2.35 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per hectare per year, and it can also be grown on land which is unsuitable for food cultivation.
• MxG Fibre, which now operates under the Genera name, was a spin-off of Aloterra, the company which built the world’s first miscanthus pulp and moulded fibre facility. CEO Matt Griswold, who is now Vice President of Genera, oversaw the planting of 20,000 acres of miscanthus grass in four midwestern states.
• A further 40 million non-food agriculturally zoned acres suitable for miscanthus cultivation within the US have been identified.
• Miscanthus is a new addition to Genera’s selection of fibre crops which encompasses switch grass, wheat straw, biomass sorghum, industrial Hemp, kenaf and triticale.
• Genera’s moulded fibre products are produced in the US from US-grown crops. In acquiring MxG Fibre, which also specialised in growing and producing in the US, Genera has stayed committed to its domestic production model.
• Unlike over 95% of other US market fibre-based packaging, neither the miscanthus feedstock and additives nor the finished product are imported.
• Alongside the inherent carbon savings, Genera’s domestic cultivation and production can avoid imports – and therefore associated tariffs – and transit delays.
• In June 2022, Genera was acquired by Ara, which specialises in decarbonisation investments. Ara commited USD 200 million of capital to support the expansion of the pulp and packaging business.
• Ara’s investment will be used to develop more integrated production facilities and expand existing ones, enabling the production of more than five million products including takeout containers, plates and bowls every day.