Brodrene Hartmann A/S, a Denmark-based producer of sustainable molded-fiber egg cartons, announced its expansion into the United States with a manufacturing facility planned for Rolla, Mo. The company’s U.S. business will operate under Hartmann US.

The $30 million, 334,000-square-foot facility will be retrofitted to produce the company’s egg cartons. Hartmann’s molded-fiber cartons, made from renewable raw material paper, are carbon neutral, biodegradable and can be recycled. The Rolla facility is slated to begin operations in early 2017.

“Our new facility in Missouri will allow us to be closer to our growing customer base in the central and western U.S.,” says Gerry Lavis, president of Hartmann North America and Hartmann US. “It will provide us with additional production capacity and increase our distribution efficiencies, which benefits our customers and positions us for continued growth.”

The company’s first U.S. facility will create 50 jobs with the potential to double both over the next several years.

Hartmann currently serves its North American customers — egg producers, packers and supermarket chains — from its production facility in Canada.