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Greening of an industry: Compostable film gets call for teatime

Tea brand owner Twinings has specified NatureFlex compostable packaging film from processor Innovia Films to wrap one of its Everyday-brand teas. Twinings markets its teas in more than 100 countries.

MPW Staff

March 12, 2009

2 Min Read
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Innovia claims to make the only metalized biodegradable films suitable for home composting.

Tea brand owner Twinings has specified NatureFlex compostable packaging film from processor Innovia Films to wrap one of its Everyday-brand teas. Twinings markets its teas in more than 100 countries.

“As a company we are always looking at ways to lessen our impact on the environment.  By using NatureFlex film as the inner wrap in this pack,  not only are the teabags protected, but it makes it easier for our customers to reduce their waste through home composting,” said Twinings’ David Parkes.

NatureFlex films are cellulose-based, manufactured from renewable wood pulp and metalized in-house by Innovia. The films are said to decompose in a home compost bin (or in an industrial compost environment) within weeks. The films bring inherent deadfold and anti-static properties, high gloss and transparency, resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases and aromas and a wide heat-seal range.

Innovia claims these are the only metalized biodegradable films suitable for home composting because the level of metal is small enough – less than 0.02% - so that it only slows the film’s degradation by a matter of days but does not interfere with its biodegradability.  Modified coatings ensure metal lay-down and adhesion so that the films have a high moisture barrier with a transmission rate of less than 10g/m²/day (at 38C / 90% RH). NatureFlex films meet both the European EN13432 and American ASTM D6400 standards for compostable packaging.  The wood pulp is sourced from managed plantations from referenced suppliers operating Good Forestry principals (FSC or equivalent).  The films typically have a renewable biobased content of some 95% by weight of material.

Innovia Films has processing facilities in the U.K., the U.S.A., Belgium and Australia. ASP Packaging Ltd. provides the certified compostable printing in this flow wrap application for Twinings. [email protected]

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