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Compostable Bread Bags - A 'Clear Winner'
Date: 30 August 2005
Fully compostable bags for bread and bakery goods have been developed by Dutch specialists in eco-packaging, Imexpo b.v.The bags, which can be supplied in a wide range of sizes to hold goods from cookies to large baguettes, feature a transparent “window” made from NatureFlex™ from Innovia Films.
They mirror traditional packs which have a plastic window but with one important difference; paper, film, inks and glue are all certified compostable to the European standard EN 13432 and the bags are able to carry the International Biodegradable Polymers Association & Working Groups (IBAW) compostable logo.
This means that in The Netherlands the bags can be added to the GFT-bins for compostable organic waste.
Managing Director of Imexpo, Michael Jongerius, is also keen to promote the use of “wet strength” paper in the bag construction:
“We can supply all kinds of virgin, paper - white, brown, printed, plain - but by using wet strength paper we can promote the secondary use of the bags for holding kitchen waste prior to being placed in the green bins.
“This would be an additional benefit and reduce the number of new paper waste bags people need to buy.”
The Imexpo bread bags are made using renewable sources such as virgin paper and NatureFlex™, a transparent cellulose film made from sustainable wood pulp.
Michael Jongerius says there are other benefits when the bags are added to organic waste:
“Extra wood fibres are often added to household waste to aid the quality of compost and controlling the composting process. The bags work in the same way, potentially removing the need to enhance the compost mix.”
Imexpo, is wholesaler of a Danish production company which supplies over 75m paper waste bags a year to the Danish and Swedish markets, believes the compostable bread bags offer retailers an excellent marketing opportunity. “Switching from plastic to compostable film adds a tiny fraction to the cost of the bread bags but is a very good communication vehicle for retailers.”
NatureFlex™ is one of the few biopolymers on the market that conforms to the European standards required for soil, home composting and waste water applications at ambient temperatures, as well as in industrial composting.
This means that in regions which do not have kerbside collection of organic waste, bags comprising paper and NatureFlex™ may be added to home compost systems.
