Columbia Packaging Group has spent decades mastering the science and discipline of flexible packaging. What sets it apart today is not simply its longevity, but how it has applied that deep technical foundation to one of the most pressing challenges in food packaging: delivering Certified Compostable solutions that perform like traditional plastic without compromising environmental integrity. Headquartered in Chino, California, with a manufacturing facility in Cambridge, Ohio, Columbia Packaging Group operates at the intersection of performance, compliance, and sustainability. Under its sustainable brands—Biolo for compostable straws and Terra-V for next-generation compostable films—the company is building solutions designed to withstand both operational scrutiny and regulatory evolution.

At the core of the company’s approach is a simple but demanding principle. As the company’s Product Manager Michael Delano explains, “Sustainable packaging can’t compromise on performance.” Food brands, retailers, and consumers still expect the durability, machinability, shelf life, and clarity they associate with traditional plastics. Compostable alternatives must meet that same baseline while also delivering measurable environmental benefits. That expectation has shaped the company’s product development philosophy. Terra-V, its latest compostable film platform, has been engineered to mirror the strength and processing behavior of conventional plastic films. The formulation incorporates PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate), a plant-based polymer that enhances film strength and biodegradability. Rather than treating sustainability as a marketing layer, the company builds performance and compostability into the material science itself.

Russell Kneipp, CEO of Columbia Packaging Group, emphasizes that real sustainability is data-driven and certified. “To have an independent party verify that the claims that you’re making with your product are valid is essential,” he notes. In a marketplace crowded with bold claims, third-party certification provides credibility. Biolo and Terra-V products are certified for home compostability and biodegradability, which means they also meet industrial composting standards. That distinction matters. Home compostability broadens the product’s practical impact, allowing materials to break down in two to three months even in communities without industrial composting infrastructure.

For retailers navigating sustainability mandates and emerging state regulations, that certification becomes more than a label—it becomes a safeguard. Retail buyers increasingly require documentation that packaging claims are verifiable and compliant with legislation. Columbia Packaging Group’s commitment to independent validation positions it as a trusted partner in that evolving regulatory landscape. Yet sustainability is only one side of the equation. The other is operational reality. Compostable films behave differently from petroleum-based plastics. Seal temperatures, feed speeds, and mechanical handling settings may require adjustment. “Rather than treating those differences as obstacles, our team views them as part of a collaborative process,” adds Becky Smith, CCO, Columbia Packaging Group.

Kneipp describes one customer’s transition from manual packing to high-speed automation. The robotic suction system used to lift compostable bags created unexpected technical challenges. By working closely with the customer’s engineering team and adjusting PSI levels, Columbia Packaging helped fine-tune the system for high-volume production. The solution was not a reformulation of the material, but a calibration of equipment parameters—demonstrating the value of hands-on partnership. This ability to bridge material science and production engineering stems from the company’s long history as a converter of traditional plastics. Decades of experience in flexographic printing and film conversion have given the team an intimate understanding of baseline performance standards. That knowledge becomes especially important when advising food manufacturers on oxygen transfer rates (OTR), water vapor transfer rates (WVTR), and shelf-life stability. “We’ve been partnering with customers for years,” Kneipp explains. “We understand what their expectations are.” That institutional knowledge allows the company to guide customers through validation testing, machinability trials, and commercial rollouts with confidence.

The company’s compostable straws under the Biolo brand provide another illustration of its philosophy. Introduced in response to growing restrictions on single-use plastics, Biolo straws were designed to solve the shortcomings of paper alternatives. Paper straws often soften, lose structural integrity, or alter taste. Biolo’s PHA-based straw performs like plastic while remaining compostable. Today, they are distributed across restaurants, airports, retail chains, and large warehouse retailers, including Costco. That commercial presence reflects a broader shift in how sustainability is evaluated. It is no longer enough for packaging to be compostable; it must also be commercially viable. Kneipp acknowledges that earlier sustainability initiatives in the industry sometimes produced pilot concepts that struggled at scale. “Our strategy focuses on ensuring that new materials integrate smoothly into existing supply chains, from conversion and printing to automated packaging lines and retail shelving,” he adds.

Looking ahead, the company anticipates that regulation will continue to shape the trajectory of sustainable packaging. As legislation expands and sustainability reporting becomes more rigorous, brands will demand solutions that anticipate—not merely react to—compliance requirements. Terra-V has been engineered with this forward view in mind, allowing the company to adapt formulations and applications as rules evolve. Growth plans reflect this measured, strategic outlook. In fact, rather than pursuing rapid geographic expansion, Columbia Packaging Group is deepening its footprint across food categories. Frozen foods, fresh produce, and bulk restaurant packaging each present distinct performance requirements. By collaborating closely with customers and their sustainability teams, the company is expanding its material applications across these segments while maintaining performance parity with plastic.

Behind the innovation is a team with diverse expertise. From Becky’s lifelong career in flexographic printing to Mike’s background with global brands like PepsiCo and Amazon, the leadership group blends manufacturing discipline with sustainability ambition. For Becky, the move into compostable packaging resolved a personal tension she describes as a “tug of war” between environmental values and traditional printing roles. Supporting circular economy initiatives has given new purpose to her industry experience.

Columbia Packaging Group’s story is not one of abandoning plastics overnight, but of engineering a credible alternative that respects the operational and regulatory realities of the food industry. By combining certified compostability, performance-focused material science, and collaborative customer partnerships, the company has positioned Biolo and Terra-V as practical solutions in a marketplace that demands both sustainability and reliability.