Footprint (company)
American biodegradable packaging company
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Footprint is a materials science organization that engineers fiber-based packaging in an effort to address the environmental crisis of plastic pollution.[1][2] Its plant-based fiber alternatives to plastic are made from sources like double-lined kraft.[3] These can be compostable, biodegradable, and recyclable.[2] Footprint operates in the United States, Europe and Mexico.[3][4]
| |
| Founded | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Founders |
|
| Headquarters | Gilbert, Arizona, U.S. |
| Key people | Troy Swope (CEO) |
| Website | www |
History
Footprint was founded by Troy Swope, a former engineer at Intel, who became an "accidental environmentalist."[1] Swope saw that outgassing was damaging Intel's products and thought that plastic food packaging might have the same issue outgassing on food.[5] Troy and Footprint co-founder Yoke Chung founded Footprint in 2014.[1][3][2]
As of 2020, Footprint has factories in the United States and Mexicali, Mexico, with around 1,500 employees.[3] Its main base is in Gilbert, Arizona, which houses a 135,000 square foot complex.[6][7]
In 2021, Footprint was named a CNBC Disruptor 50 company.[8]
In December 2021, Footprint and Gores Holdings VIII, Inc. announced a merger acquisition that will result in Footprint becoming a publicly listed company. It is expected to list on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol "FOOT."[9] The following September saw its valuation cut as part of an amended merger deal, but with an upsized investment, following delays in its public listing due to macroeconomic environment.[10]
In 2021, Footprint founders Troy Swope and Yoke Chung were named to Newsweek's list of America's Greatest Disruptors: Planet Protectors.[11]
Activities
Footprint's products are made from materials including double-lined kraft and newsprint.[3] The organization uses things like recycled cardboard boxes, agricultural waste and virgin wood fibers to create biodegradable packaging.[2][5] It owns around 240 patents for containers that can keep food safe, including packaging meant for shelves and those that can be frozen for 180 days.[3][2] In the wake of plastic straw bans, Footprint makes a compostable paper straw.[12][13]
Research on turtle behavior
Footprint supports the research of Christine Figgener, a marine conservation biologist who documents turtle behavior and has investigated the effect of plastics pollution on their natural habitat.[12] Her video showing a turtle with a straw stuck in its snout garnered 37 million views as of September 2019, which raised awareness of the crisis.[12][14]
Transition from plastics to alternatives
Footprint has supported Conagra Brands transition from plastic products to fiber bowls.[3][15] Footprint has developed fiber-based plastic alternatives for Philips, Bose, Target, and Foxconn.[3] Sweetgreen has switched to bowls designed by Footprint.[16]
Sports
Food service items for the Super Bowl LIV were supplied by Footprint.[1] These included more than 100,000 plates, bowls, cups, hot dog boards, and straws.[2][17] Coolers designed by Footprint used in the Super Bowl LIV were biodegradable.[3][18]
In July 2021, Footprint and the Phoenix Suns announced a naming rights partnership for Footprint Center. As part of the partnership, Footprint Center will eliminate single-use plastic from the arena.[19][20] The deal ended in February 2025, but the company would remain a partner of the Suns, Mercury, and arena. In the meantime, it would temporarily be called PHX arena. [21]
NextGen Cup Challenge
In 2018, Footprint joined Starbucks, McDonald's, Coca-Cola Company, Yum Brands, Wendy's, and Nestlé in the NextGen Cup Challenge, which sought to identify an optimal cup design that was recyclable.[3][22] Footprint's entry was called CoolTouch and debuted during Climate Week.[3]
European Expansion
In Sept. 2021, Footprint announced plans for a European R&D center in the Netherlands that will also serve as the company's European headquarters.[4]