Clover Sonoma, a third-generation, family-owned and operated dairy in Petaluma, California, has introduced the first fully renewable milk carton.

It's the first U.S. dairy to use such an environmentally friendly milk carton. This year, the dairy will use an estimated 10 million renewable cartons, and continue to convert to the new packaging until all cartons are renewable.

The paperboard for the new carton will be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, so  consumers who purchase the renewable milk carton will support responsible forest management and help protect forests for future generations.

The lining inside and outside of the carton will be made of fossil-fuel-free plastic made from non-GMO sugar cane. Bio-ethanol made from sugar cane is used for a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) coating inside and outside of the carton.

The carbon footprint of Clover Sonoma’s renewable plant-based milk carton is 50% lower than conventional cartons, according to a European study by the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. Both the paper board and liner materials are also traceable to their origins.  

Clover Sonoma’s new packaging will be available this summer in organic half-gallon and quart milk cartons.

In addition, the company renewed its certification for B Corporation with a score of 100.5, up from 96.9 when it became a B Corp in 2016.

The B Corp assessment process measures a company’s performance in five categories: governance, workers, customers, community, and the environment. Certified B Corporations also amend their governance structure so that, by law, they can make decisions and implement practices that consider not just shareholder value, but the impact on all stakeholders—employees, customers, society, and the environment.