Futamura, Bio4Pack create compostable pack for Dutch organic cereal producer

The pack uses NatureFlex and Tipa films, with NatureFlex cellulose films laminated to Tipa film to provide sealability. This allows Dutch consumers to buy a product that can be disposed of in their green waste bin, which is accepted by the Dutch waste infrastructure.

NatureFlex cellulose films are made from renewable and responsibly sourced wood pulp and are independently certified industrial compostable according to the European standard EN13432 and TÜV Austria’s OK Compost Home standard for home composting. NatureFlex offers barrier properties against moisture, gases and mineral oils.

The product featured in the recent plastic free aisle introduced by supermarket chain Ekoplaza, along with a number of other options from Bio4Pack using NatureFlex films. Ekoplaza states that to qualify for their plastic free aisle, flexible packaging must be made from ‘innovative compostable biomaterials’.

Andy Sweetman, Futamura sales and marketing manager for the EMEA region, said: ‘We are delighted that NatureFlex is featuring so prominently on the Ekoplaza plastic free aisle. It is an easy substitute for some conventional plastics, especially for dry produce such as the De Halm cereal bag. We are looking forward to the plastic free aisle concept developing in other countries.’

Patrick Gerritsen, director at Bio4Pack, added: ‘We have been producing sustainable packaging from bio materials for a number of years. It is fantastic to see these types of solutions being more broadly recognized. We have used NatureFlex films for many of our packs as they are fully compostable and easily converted; which means we can use them on their own, or as with the De Halm pack, as part of a more complex bio-laminate structure.’