Application News
Application News Compostable & microwavable packaging good natured Products (Vancouver, BC , Canada) launched Canada’s first innovative assortment of compostable Microwavable To Go Containers as a viable alternative for businesses faced with the impending single-use plastic ban in Canada (planned to start in December 2021). The proposed ban also recognizes “innovative technologies to improve the environmental outcomes of some single-use products. For example, the use of compostable, bio-based, or biodegradable plastics …” Minimizing waste and environmental impact is top of mind for both consumers and organizations, yet at the same time, the widespread effect of COVID-19 has led to higher requirements to protect food in grocery stores and increased demand for take-out from restaurants due to rolling restrictions on in-restaurant dining. This, in combination with growing government and corporate mandates, is driving demand for innovative packaging solutions that do less harm to the planet and human health. Packaging made from renewable materials that can be commercially composted at the end of its useful life is considered a viable option to create a closed-loop, zerowaste solution. This is especially true in food services applications, where traces of food and oils on packaging can make them problematic for easy recycling, regardless of the material they’re made from. The new containers are designed to be compostable, are made from 97 % plant-based materials and contain no chemicals of concern that are potentially harmful to human health and the environment. With leak resistance and durability in line with traditional plastic options, good natured ® Microwaveable To Go Containers are suitable for hot foods and microwave reheating. This is one of the first available hot food packaging options on the market that combines the zero-waste benefits of commercial composting with affordable price points and has Canadian innovation written all over it. good natured is launching the most popular 16, 24, and 32 oz formats in a variety of trending 2021 colours with interchangeable leak-resistant lids – a crystal clear lid for grocers to maximize product visualization and a translucent lid suitable for microwave heating, which is particularly appealing for restaurant and take-out applications. MT www.goodnaturedproducts.com Confectionery Packaging German confectionery brand, Cool, has chosen NatureFlex compostable cellulose films from Futamura (Wigton, Cumbria, UK) to package its confectionery product Öcoologisch Herz Lolli. NatureFlex, and its big sister brand Cellophane, have long been used for confectionery packaging due to their excellent technical performance for this market application. They have good barrier properties, outstanding optical clarity and unrivalled deadfold, a real benefit for traditional twist wrap applications. The films can also be printed and laminated just like conventional plastic films. The individual lollies are wrapped in single-ply NatureFlex and the outer bag is a NatureFlex / biofilm laminate. Both packaging solutions are printed and converted by the Dutch company Bio4Pack (Nordhorn, Germany). NatureFlex is a range of renewable films made from wood pulp, sourced from responsibly and sustainably managed plantations. Not only do they meet all the global standards for industrial composting (including EN13432), but they are also home compostable and certified by the TŰV Austria OK Compost Home composting standard for backyard composting. In difficult to recycle small format applications such as confectionery, this means that NatureFlex films can go straight into the garden compost bin, diverting waste from landfill. When asked why they chose NatureFlex, André Richter from Cool said: “We were looking for an ‘environmentally friendly’ variant of this type of packaging and found a suitable price-performance ratio at NatureFlex. Good quality, stability and hold are important. Doing something good for the environment at the same time – what more could you want?” He added, “We have found the machine performance to be good and in no way inferior to other conventional films. We regularly receive good feedback from consumers who feel it is very positive that we care about the environment, often asking if there are other products using these bio films.” Yasar Tuerkoglu, sales manager at Bio4pack said: “We use NatureFlex films for a number of our customers, either on their own, or as part of bio-laminate. We have found that consumers really care about the environmental impact of their packaging. Composting is a great solution that is part of a growing circular economy. It is particularly important for high-litter risk packs like small format confectionery, such as these lolly wrappers. If they do accidentally end up in the environment, we know the packs will safely break down, not stay around for hundreds of years. Although we would never advocate littering, always composting!” MT www.natureflex.com | www.bio4pack.com 38 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/21] Vol. 16
PHB straws and cutlery at Target Restore’s AirCarbon straws and cutlery are now available in Target stores US-wide and on Target.com. Restore, a sustainable foodware brand from Newlight Technologies (Huntington Beach, CA, USA), is advancing its mission to end the flow of plastic into the oceans by replacing plastic with a regenerative and biodegradable material called AirCarbon (PHB). AirCarbon straws and cutlery are dishwasher safe for reuse, never get soggy in hot or cold conditions, contain no glues, require no food crops for production, and are certified carbon-negative by SCS Global Services, reducing the net amount of carbon in the air through production. AirCarbon straws are certified home compostable and soil degradable, and AirCarbon cutlery are dishwasher safe for reuse. By making foodware out of AirCarbon, Restore is offering a new option for consumers who want straws and cutlery that are reusable and work as well as conventional plastic but also have natural end-of-life pathways. Since late 2020, Restore has been piloting AirCarbon straws and cutlery at locations across the United States, most recently announcing its pilot program with Shake Shack in March 2021. Target is Restore’s introductory retail partner, marking the first time AirCarbon foodware is available for consumers to purchase. “Our goal is to help end ocean plastic pollution by finding a shared middle ground,” said Mark Herrema, CEO of Newlight. “For us, that means making sustainable products that people love and that also work for the environment. This launch is the culmination of many years of hard work by many dedicated people.” There will be two initial product offerings available from Restore at Target: 24-piece packs of wrapped straws, in-store and online at Target.com; and 3-piece cutlery packs with a natural fibre carrying case, in-store and online at Target.com. MT www.restorefoodware.com | www.newlight.com Application News Compostable shrink film In today’s world, many are looking for greener ways to approach packaging. This includes looking at the entire range of the product’s life cycle — from raw material sourcing to disposal. With this in mind, Cortec ® Corporation has been working tirelessly to introduce viable packaging options that can make the circular economy a reality. EcoCortec ® has recently intensified efforts to develop a variety of practical alternatives to traditional plastic films and bags. Today, EcoCortec is pleased to announce the official release of EcoShrink Compostable Film, a commercially compostable alternative to common plastic shrink wraps for use in industrial packaging applications. Designed with the Circular Economy in mind EcoShrink takes both the beginning and the end of the shrink wrap product life cycle into account. EcoShrink is sourced from certified commercially compostable resins and contains 45% biopolymers. After use, EcoShrink can be disposed of in a commercial composting environment to reduce the amount of plastic packaging that normally ends up in a landfill.* EcoShrink is shelf and curb stable and will retain its integrity until disposed of properly. Key environmental benefits can be summarized as follows: • Meets ASTM D6400 standard for commercial composting • Contains 45 % biopolymers • Reduces conventional plastic waste • Improves user’s environmental footprint Putting EcoShrink to good use In addition to these green benefits, EcoShrink has many practical characteristics. It is designed for standard heat-shrinking applications. Users of EcoShrink can shrink wrap their small or large components as normal to conform to the shape of the object. EcoShrink is a great way to keep dust, dirt, and moisture off warehouse stock while keeping components bundled into a streamlined package. Shrink-wrapping can be done with a wide variety of standard shrink tools. Simply measure the size of the unit, determine how much film is needed to wrap around it with enough for overlap, then shrink wrap as usual. EcoShrink is available in 50 or 100 µm thicknesses and as single wound or centrefold sheeting in widths of 45.72 cm or 91.44 cm. Join the quest for greener packaging options There are many possible steps in the journey toward reducing plastic waste. With EcoShrink, Cortec has chosen to take the route of incorporating renewable materials and ultimately keeping plastics out of the landfill by designing them for an industrial composting waste stream. MT www.cortecvci.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/21] Vol. 16 39
