A range of compostable flexible films which are produced from wood pulp, sourced from managed plantations.
Bioplastics are generally understood to be either:
• biodegradable or non-biodegradable products made from renewable raw materials or
• biodegradable products made from either renewable or fossil raw materials.
NatureFlex™ is a biodegradable film made from renewable raw materials.
All the wood pulp used in the manufacture of NatureFlex films originates from non-genetically modified sources; and is sourced from four referenced suppliers whose operations have been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), or a regional environmental body.
Two of our suppliers are certified to FSC, one is partially certified to PEFC (and is steadily increasing the area of forestry under certification) and one is actively working towards FSC accreditation.
The proportion of renewable or bio-based carbon can be determined using analytical methods e.g. ASTM D6866 which is based on radiocarbon methodology and demonstrates the ratio of ‘new’ carbon to ‘fossil’ carbon. All NatureFlex™ films have a minimum bio-based carbon content of 90%.
Compostability and Biodegradation:
A biodegradable plastic will break down under the action of naturally occurring micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi or algae), but has no specific time frame and no requirement for not leaving a ‘toxic residue’.
A compostable plastic is plastic that ‘undergoes degradation by biological processes during composting to yield carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass, at a rate consistent with other known compostable materials (e.g. cellulose), and leaves no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue’ (ASTM D6400).
Degradable plastics will undergo significant changes in their chemical structure, due to the presence of an additive, under specific environmental conditions (e.g. UV, oxygen, heat or humidity) resulting in a loss of some properties. These materials do not comply with EN13432 or ASTM D6400.
Heat, water and oxygen are required by micro-organisms for efficient and effective biodegradation. Biodegradable plastics are metabolised by micro-organisms which transform the bioplastic product into carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
No. NatureFlex™ grades are very stable and will not biodegrade or show any loss in mechanical properties on the shelf. Biodegradation will only be initiated in a soil, compost or waste-water environment in the presence of micro-organisms, humidity and warmth.
Certification:
Yes. There is a European norm (EN13432), American norm (ASTM D6400) and Australian (AS4736) which define the tests required to demonstrate the compostability of a material. Other countries have their own version of this norm although there is an ISO standard (ISO17088:2008) which should allow for harmonisation. There are four main parts to the test:
• Material characterisation (including heavy metals)
• Biodegradation (measures the breakdown to carbon dioxide, water and biomass.
Requirement is for >90% biodegradation in 180 days; or >60% for ASTM D6400)
• Disintegration (the material must physically break down into pieces to give >90%
at <2mm residues within 90 days)
• Ecotoxicity (ensures no toxic material is produced which can adversely affect plant
growth)
These standards measure suitability for industrial composting. For home compostability, these same criteria must be met but the temperature is lower and the timescales are longer.
Yes, NatureFlex™ films are certified to both these norms for compostable packaging and are eligible to carry the certification marks of Din Certco, AIB Vinçotte and BPI.
Yes, even if the film is unconverted, a new number must be obtained to maintain traceability through the system.
Applications and Use:
When bioplastics replace conventional plastics, there is usually an environmental driving force but there should also be minimal differences in functionality.
The largest uptake of bioplastics has been in the following applications:
• Mulch film which can subsequently be ploughed into the field after use
• Rigid packaging including trays and bottles
• Compostable waste bags to collect organic waste
• Food packaging, especially for organic or niche applications, particularly for fresh products with a short shelf life so that ‘left over’ packs can be composted alongside food waste
• Catering products for large events where again ‘left over’ packs can be composted alongside food waste
• Hygiene applications
NatureFlex™ films are used in a wide variety of packaging applications, including:
• Flow wrap for fresh produce
• Tampon wrap
• Confectionery, especially twist wrap
• Board lamination
• Inner lining for waste bags
• Dried foods eg. pasta and muesli
• Biscuits and bakery
• Crisps and snacks
Yes. NatureFlex™ films are suitable for a wide range of conversion techniques. Please consult our Conversion Guide for more details.
General:
NatureFlex™ and Cellophane™ films are manufactured using the same casting process, but the base film components and coatings are different.
Innovia Films can slit films to a variety of widths, from as narrow as 30mm to 1500mm. Please
contact your Sales Representative to discuss whether or not the widths you require are available in your chosen grade. Sheets of film are also available upon request.
For NatureFlex™ films, the minimum order quantity is 250kgs to the nearest full pallet. However, we do offer smaller quantities upon request for trialling purposes. Please
contact your Sales Representative to discuss.
Environmental:
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a method for quantifying the overall environmental impact of a product.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during the life cycle of a product or service. The carbon footprint of any product can be determined by a Life Cycle Assessment.
The current carbon footprint of standard coated NatureFlex™ film 2010 is 5.2kg CO2eq./kg and the carbon footprint of uncoated NatureFlex™ film is 3.7kg CO2eq./kg.
We will continue to work towards reducing our carbon footprint by continued improvements in efficiency and planned investments. Please see our page on
Carbon Offsetting for more details.
End of Life:
NatureFlex™ can be industrially composted, where the infrastructure exists, and meets all international standards for compostability. Alternatively, NatureFlex is suitable for home composting and will typically biodegrade in just a few weeks in a home compost bin, depending on the conditions.
NatureFlex™ has also passed the tests for Anaerobic Digestion (AD) (otherwise known as biogasification). Here, anaerobic conditions are deliberately created , in order to produce methane which is then captured and used as an energy source. In addition, an organic fertiliser is produced.
Although composting is officially recognised as organic-recycling under EU legislation, most people take recycling to mean thermal-recycling. As NatureFlex™ is not a thermoplastic material, it is not recommended for such techniques.
Yes, with energy recovery. NatureFlex™ burns readily and will provide a similar calorific value to that of wood.
NatureFlex™ films have been successfully recycled with carton-board. However they are not currently recommended for mechanical recycling with paper. The key difference is the ratio of film to paper/board.