bioplasticsMAGAZINE_0903

News
Herbs And Spices Packed
in High Barrier Film
Austrian producer, Sonnentor, decided to wrap its range of herbs
and spices in Innovia Films’ high barrier compostable cellulose-based
material, NatureFlex NK. This film offers not only biodegradability
and compostability, but also a moisture barrier approaching that of
co-extruded OPP. This means it has the best moisture barrier of any
biopolymer film currently available, which has been achieved through
Innovia Films’ unique coating technology.
Kids in UK
planted trees
for a better
understanding
World famous environmentalist David
Bellamy explained the benefits of biodiversity
and habitat creation to fascinated children at
two schools in Bedfordshire, UK. Together
with the kids he planted trees donated by
Marchant Manufacturing Ltd., manufacturers
of compostable bags.
Tree Appeal are managing the environmental
initiative, set up by Marchant Manufacturing,
which is working to make the compostable
bags used by Central Bedfordshire Council’s
Waste Team, even greener.
By donating trees to be planted, Marchant
Manufacturing and Stanelco BioPlastics are
offsetting their environmental footprint, helping
their customer contribute to the balance
of the natural world, and educating local
children about their environment. Children
at both Russell Lower School in Ampthill and
Southlands Lower School in Biggleswade
produced imaginative drawings about the event
showing their understanding of recycling food
waste and the importance of trees.
Sonnentor was founded over 20 years ago in the ‘Waldviertel’ region by
Johannes Gutmann. He wanted to sell locally grown and dried organic
herbs and spices with the emphasis on traditional harvesting and
refining methods, innovation and Fair Trade principles. The company
has gone from strength to strength and employs 100 people in Austria,
with % of its product exported.
Outlining why Sonnentor chose NatureFlex to package its herbs
and spices, Gutmann comments, “Sonnentor’s formula for success is
innovative product concepts and high-quality, carefully selected organic
ingredients. This organic way requires innovative solutions for our
packaging. NatureFlex plays an important part in our sustainability and
successful future.”
“With its excellent barrier properties, NatureFlex NK fills a major
gap in the compostable materials market. Now dry, moisture-sensitive
foods can also be wrapped using a compostable solution. We anticipate
this will open up a host of new opportunities both for NatureFlex on its
own, or as part of a laminate solution with other biofilms,” exclaims
Andy Sweetman, Innovia Films’ Global Marketing Manager, Sustainable
Technologies.
NatureFlex NK is a transparent, general purpose packaging grade
suitable for various applications eg dried foods (biscuits, cereals, crisps,
snack bars etc). The product is also ideal for lamination to other biofilms.
NatureFlex NK is available in 20, 23, 30, 4 micron thicknesses and can be
used for a variety of pack formats – VFFS, flow wrap, twistwrap and overwrap.
www.innoviafilms.com
www.sonnentor.com
www.marchant.co.uk
28 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/09] Vol. 4