Vegware Biodegradable Cutlery Sets Wrapped in Compostable NatureFlexâ„¢ Film

Innovia Films' biodegradable and compostable material, NatureFlex™ NE30, has been chosen to flow-wrap Vegware's natural starch cutlery sets.

NatureFlex™ was an obvious solution for the packaging in this application as the film begins life as a natural product – wood - and breaks down at the end of its lifecycle in a home compost bin (or industrial compost environment) within a matter of weeks. It also offers advantages for packing such as inherent deadfold and anti-static properties, high gloss and transparency, resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases and aromas and a wide heat-seal range.

Vegware was founded in Edinburgh by Joe Frankel in 2006 and currently serves the UK, Irish and North American markets. The company provides a full range of biodegradable cutlery and tableware, offering the food service industry a practical and economic alternative to plastic disposables.

Biodegradable Cutlery Sets

Vegware's 100% biodegradable cutlery is moulded from corn and potato starch. It is robust, GM-free and heat-resistant up to 105°C. The Vegware philosophy is simple: all Vegware products are fully biodegradable and can be composted together with food waste, thus reducing the burden on landfill.

Outlining why Vegware selected NatureFlex™, Joe explained: “I like the fact that NatureFlex™ is genuinely home-compostable, unlike some other bioplastic films which are more suited to commercial composting, which requires higher temperatures. It looks great, and can be used in flow-wrap machines. It's also from a fully sustainable source of wood. We are the only packaging company in the UK not to use any oil-based plastics at all. So using NatureFlex™ to wrap our cutlery packs was the obvious choice, and means that the entire package is biodegradable.”

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.

“NatureFlex™ is a highly versatile packaging film,”stated Clare McKeown, Innovia Films’ Market Manager “It is not only biodegradable and compostable for those packer processors keen to use sustainable packaging, but also offers a technical performance second to none. We are pleased to have assisted Vegware in gaining a competitive advantage by aligning their packaging message with the ethos of their product marketing and providing caring consumers with a biodegradable, naturally-based sustainable packaging material.”