Biodegradable and Compostable Packaging

Natureflex provides the finishing touch with biodegradable and compostable cellulose-based film packaging

Multi award-winning Welsh artisan organic flour producer, Bacheldre Watermill, has chosen Innovia Film’s biodegradable and compostable material, NatureFlex™, to add the finishing touch to its stylish flour packaging.

Biodegradable and Compostable Flour Bags

Previously using a foil-based label, Bacheldre Watermill was delighted when Berkshire Labels offered the solution to move to a compostable label from their BioTAK™ range that would fit with the existing compostable flour bags.

In 2001 Berkshire Labels started its research for a completely biodegradable label, recognising the need to start providing environmentally friendly alternatives within the packaging industry.  Its exclusive BioTAK™ range conforms to the Biodegradable and Compostable norm EN13432 and involves applying a 100% biodegradable permanent adhesive to a material such as Innovia Films’ NatureFlex™, which is available in white, clear and metallised.  Bacheldre Watermill chose metallised NatureFlex™ NM for this product.

Cellulose-Based Film

NatureFlex™ NM is a unique cellulose-based film, manufactured from renewable wood pulp and metallised in-house.  It is the only metallised biodegradable film suitable for home composting because the level of metal is so small – less than 0.02% - which slows the film’s degradation by a matter of days but does not interfere with its biodegradability in any other way.  Modified coatings ensure excellent metal lay-down and adhesion providing a very high moisture barrier with a transmission rate of less than 10 g/m²/day (30degC, 90% RH).

All NatureFlex™ films are certified to 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).  NatureFlex™ films typically have a renewable biobased content of some 95% by weight of material.  They also offer natural and organic product manufacturers the ability to align their packaging message with the spirit of their product marketing.

Matt Scott, co-owner and founder of Bacheldre Watermill, enthuses:

“With the introduction of these new BioTAK™ labels made from NatureFlex™, our packaging is now fully sustainable and compostable, is able to achieve biodegradation within just a couple of months and certainly stands out as something special in the flour category.”