Trellis in the News
Reporter:
Yesterday we told you about a new ordinance in San Francisco. It requires larger stores to use only paper or biodegradable plastic bags.
Reporter 1:
As New Channel 8 and Portland Business Channel reporter Joe Smith tells us, it means a small Portland company could get carried away.
Joe Smith:
Paper or plastic? Not so fast in San Francisco anymore. Lawmakers this week passed a resolution that will all but ban traditional plastic bags in the city.
Chad Biasi [Trellis Earth]:
It probably means a great business opportunity.
Joe Smith:
Chad Biasi is a vice president with Portland's Trellis Earth Products. He says a gamble just months ago is about to pay off.
Chad Biasi [Trellis Earth]:
We had no idea that it would happen so quickly.
Joe Smith:
Biasi says the need for his companies biodegradable products is ready to replace what San Francisco doesn't want — the traditional grocery plastic bag.
Trellis is just one of two companies producing biodegradable bags made from corn. It's considered a food. Trellis shot this video of some products made at it's factory in China. Biasi says he's capable of supplying eight shipping containers. That's 100 million bags a month to feed the anticipated need along the west coast.
Chad Biasi [Trellis Earth]:
Vancouver, BC, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Joe Smith:
Only in business for two months, already more than 50 grocery stores, restaurants, and specialty shops in Portland are on board, including Elephant's Deli.
Nicholas Doughty [Elephant's Deli]:
It was a matter of finding the right product at the right price.
Joe Smith:
Elephant's uses biodegradable corn-ware, plates, and cups in its catering operations. Bio-bags in the deli wrap breads and cookies. Now the deli is testing new bio-bowls for hot food.
Nicholas Doughty [Elephant's Deli]:
When you think about how much packaging a company uses over the course of a year it's, it's pretty impressive and we really want it to be all biodegradable.
Joe Smith:
As many as a trillion plastic bags are consumed world-wide every year. But those traditional bags cost just a penny. Biodegradable bags can cost as much as six cents each. Some stores are reluctant to embrace the bio movement for that reason, and say cost could be passed on to consumers.
Chad Biasi [Trellis Earth]:
Until we have another planet to move to we've got to take care of this one.
Joe Smith:
Joe Smith, Northwest News Channel 8 and the Portland Business Journal.
Reporter:
San Francisco's bag ban goes into effect later this year. Oregon, by the way, requires paper bags be offered wherever the plastic bags are an option.
You can read more about this story in next weeks Business Journal on newstands.