DuPont

The next time you make some microwave popcorn or cook a frozen pizza, consider this: The packaging of many of these products contains a chemical that the Environmental Protection Agency considers potentially carcinogenic and wants businesses to voluntarily stop using by 2015.Studies show that this chemical -- perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA -- is present in 98% of Americans' blood and 100% of newborns. It doesn't break down and thus accumulates in the system over time.

According to a new study released by PricewaterouseCoopers for the Grocery Manufacturers Associtaion (GMA): green is good. Increasingly, some of the biggest brand names in the world are implementing sustainable practices into their business, and it’s starting to pay off for them.

Researchers are looking for new ways to use renewable sources like corn and switchgrass instead of petroleum as the raw ingredient in plastic.