PHA-based compostable serviceware introduced at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson golf tournament

Sustainability initiatives are being expanded at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson, with the introduction of PHA-based foodservice items as part of efforts to move the tournament closer to a zero-waste model.

The 2026 event will mark the first large-scale deployment of paper cups, cutlery and straws made using polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), following a collaboration between CJ Biomaterials and WinCup Inc.. The materials will be supplied under the PHACT™ platform and incorporated into phade® branded compostable serviceware used across the tournament site.

The products are set to be distributed throughout the venue, including general areas, hospitality spaces and the House of CJ, an 8,000 sq ft experiential area featuring Korean consumer products, food and technology.

PHA is a biopolymer produced through the fermentation of renewable carbon sources such as plant oils and sugars. The material is designed to biodegrade in soil and marine environments and is certified for both home and industrial composting. The coating technology used in the paper cups combines different forms of PHA, including a softer amorphous grade and a more rigid semi-crystalline variant, to deliver the required performance characteristics.

Golf fans can feel good knowing that every PHACT™ PHA cup, straw, and utensil they use during the event will fully break down after use, leaving no persistent microplastics behind. The new home and commercially compostable PHACT™ PHA solution we are using for the paper cups at the tournament represents a breakthrough in performance for PHA-based coatings. We are proud to take these meaningful steps toward a zero-waste event at THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson.

Max Senechal, Chief Commercial Officer at CJ Biomaterials.

The phade® range is already available through retail channels, including Walmart, providing consumers attending the event with exposure to compostable alternatives that are also commercially accessible beyond the tournament environment.

The rollout forms part of wider efforts to integrate more sustainable materials into large-scale events, using foodservice packaging as a key area for reducing waste and environmental impact.