Novolex launches sugarcane food trays, calls for more US commercial composters to tackle food waste

06 Apr 2020 --- Eco-Products, a Novolex brand, has introduced compostable trays as the latest addition to its line of foodservice products, targeting grocery stores and food processors. Made from residual sugarcane fiber, the new trays are commercially compostable and meet US American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certification for compostability. The newest expansion of Eco-Products’ solutions aligns with the company’s understanding that “compostable packaging and food waste are closely linked.”

“Eco-Products would like to see more US communities with access to commercial composters that accept packaging. Not only would this increase the diversion of packaging from landfills, but it would keep significant amounts of food waste out of landfills as well,” Sarah Martinez, Senior Director of Marketing for Eco-Products, tells PackagingInsights.

According to multi-stakeholder nonprofit ReFED, commercial composting has the potential to divert over 5 million tons of food waste from landfills annually. In comparison, US consumers, businesses and farms send 52 million annual tons of food to landfills, amounting to US$218 billion a year spent on growing, processing, transporting and disposing of unconsumed food. 

Moreover, according to 100 percent of participants in a UK online survey in the recent roundtable webinar, titled “Food Packaging vs Waste – Moving Towards a Circular Economy,” food packaging plays a “high” and “critical” role in achieving a sustainable food supply chain.

“We are investing significant resources to help expand access to composting through industry collaboration and direct partnership with composters. We are active members of the US Composting Council, Biodegradable Products Institute and Eco-Cycle, whose initiatives focus on expanding composting,” Martinez highlights.

Compostable trays provide a strategic means of tackling food waste and plastic pollution in the foodservice sector.Freezer-safe, microwave-friendly
Both freezer-safe and microwave-friendly, the grease- and cut-resistant trays arrive as round and square plates as well as lidded and unlidded bowls. Other food trays in Eco-Products’ line of foodservice products made from renewable resources include its compostable french fry holders and its 70 percent post-consumer recycled content clay-coated paperboard trays for 1, 2, 3 and 5 lbs.

“By focusing on foodservice, most of our products are designed for foods consumed shortly after being served, for example, at restaurants, universities, sports venues and corporate campuses. We are exploring new opportunities in retail food packaging and expanding our use of recycled PET as an alternative to PLA with our clear containers to offer customers additional options,” Martinez details.

“Our sugarcane comes primarily from Asia. The fiber we use is left over after sugarcane has been processed to make sugar. We are actively engaged with external parties to better understand social and environmental issues in the sugarcane supply chain,” she states.

Food tray innovation
Eco-Products is one of several packaging companies to reassess the role of single-use food trays to ensure food safety and close the loop. In February, Graphic Packaging International launched a new line of fiber-based trays called PaperSeal made from barrier-lined paperboard. Using up to 90 percent paperboard, the trays are designed for the film liner to be easily separated from the paperboard after use to maximize its recyclability potential. 

With confirmed recyclability issued from the Institute cyclos-HTP, Südpack Verpackungen also delivered its Multi SV Skin pack to the food packaging sector in January. Targeting mainly food safety, Aptar Food + Beverage introduced its InvisiShield platform technology, an anti-pathogenic packaging solution for sealed containers, to the fresh produce sector last month.

In extended compostable developments, biodegradable packaging specialist Sirane developed a plastic-free, compostable sandwich skillet called Earthwedge as an alternative to the PE-coated packs and laminated boards, created from a combination of coated boards and coated papers. 

By Anni Schleicher