A First-of-Its-Kind Plant-Based Packaging Option for Growers Who Never Compromise
For commercial growers, the best innovations are the ones that support performance while fitting naturally into existing production practices.
That is the thinking behind the new plant-based packaging option for PRO-MIX® CX, introduced at NECANN Boston 2026. After more than two years of research, collaboration, and product testing, PRO-MIX® CX is now available in a more breathable bag format, with the same OMRI Listed, approved-for-organic-use coir growers already trust.
Built From a Simple Idea: Innovate Without Compromise
In commercial cannabis production, every input matters. Growers depend on repeatability from batch to batch, crop to crop, and room to room. Innovation must do more than sound promising. It has to prove itself in real cultivation conditions.
That was the thinking behind this launch from the start. The question was straightforward: could PRO-MIX® CX be offered in a different format while maintaining the standards growers expect? That question led to a development process involving teams, facilities, and partners across multiple regions.
As Rémi Naasz, Product Development Director and Substrate Expert at Premier Tech, explains:
“This journey began more than two years ago while visiting our facilities and partners in India and Sri Lanka. From there, we initiated discussions and conducted early evaluations in our facilities in Asia and at our Research Centre in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec. Throughout the process, our priority was clear: preserve the same PRO-MIX® CX coir quality while introducing an innovative plant-based packaging option. Once the concept was ready, we validated it several times with grower-partners through IR&D trials and real commercial operations. The results confirmed performance at least equal to our existing offer, PRO-MIX® CX plastic bag, and today, we are proud to make this new PRO-MIX® CX option available to all producers.”
Rather than replacing an established solution, this first-of-its-kind plant-based packaging option adds flexibility within the PRO-MIX® CX offering. It also reflects a broader shift in the industry, as more producers seek options that align with evolving operational and environmental priorities without compromising reliable outcomes.
Two Years of Development, Testing, and Validation
This launch did not happen overnight. The new plant-based packaging option for PRO-MIX® CX is the result of more than two years of rigorous development.
From the beginning, the priorities were clear:
- maintain consistent performance
- validate the concept in both research and commercial conditions
- bring a first-of-its-kind option to the cannabis cultivation industry
Development included early evaluations in Premier Tech facilities in Asia, along with work conducted at the Premier Tech Research Centre in Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec. Once the concept was ready, it was evaluated through internal R&D, real commercial operations, growth room trials lasting 12 weeks or more, and greenhouse evaluations extending beyond 6 months. Across these conditions, no visual or measurable degradation of the bags was observed during production.
The result was clear. Performance was at least equal to the current PRO-MIX® CX plastic bag offer. For growers managing irrigation strategy, crop steering, labor efficiency, and predictable outcomes at scale, that level of validation is essential.
A More Breathable Format for Commercial Cultivation
Made with coco fiber, natural latex, and plant-based ink, this new format offers a more breathable alternative to traditional plastic and adds a new packaging option within the PRO-MIX® CX offering.
For growers, that breathability is a key differentiator. Internal observations concretely measured increased air and water exchange, along with effective root colonization inside the bag. In practical terms, the new plant-based packaging creates more space for root development and a more reactive plant-media system, with faster drainage and aeration, all of which are directly tied to irrigation response, dryback strategy, and overall crop steering.
For commercial operations, that brings added flexibility. Growers can evaluate a new format while continuing to work with a growing medium they already know and trust.
What Growers Should Know Operationally
This new format brings a few practical differences growers may notice in production.
Among the most relevant are:
- increased breathability, which supports greater air and water exchange around the root zone
- a more responsive system, with drainage and aeration that may react more quickly than traditional plastic packaging
There are also a few handling considerations to keep in mind:
- during watering and fluffing, the bag should be well opened and kept open
- because there are no holes at the bottom of the bags, full expansion may take a little more time when watering from below
These are simple adjustments that can be integrated easily into standard practices.
Innovation Built for Commercial Cultivation
This launch reflects a focused kind of innovation. It introduces something new while staying grounded in what commercial growers value most: consistency, reliability, and validated performance.
It is also the result of close collaboration across teams, research capabilities, and production partners. From concept to commercial validation, the project shows how innovation can be brought to market with discipline and purpose.
For growers who already trust PRO-MIX® CX, this launch introduces a new plant-based format without changing the product performance they rely on.
For operations looking to learn more, explore PRO-MIX® CX or contact us.
