High Barrier Compostable Film

Innovia Films’ high barrier compostable material, NatureFlex™ NK, has been selected by a Dutch company, Amigos International, to wrap its new range of dark, Fair Trade, organic chocolate from Ecuador - Ananda.

Available in five mouthwatering flavours with a minimum of 70% cocoa content, Ananda, means ‘ecstasy’ in Sanskrit and Pali and is a popular Buddhist name. Eating regular small amounts of dark chocolate can benefit your health due to its happiness-producing particles, so-called ‘Anandamides’.

Amigos International believes in Fair Trade principles and works closely with farmers, processors, exporters and researchers in developing countries, such as Ecuador, to generate local employment. Through speciality stores, wholesalers and direct online, the company sells exotic tea, coffee and chocolate, which is organically produced and ecologically packaged.

Jeroen Kruft, the owner of Amigos International, stated that, “Amigos International is a long-time distributor of organic products. We appreciate not only the ecological aspects of the ingredients, but were also looking at packaging to complement this. That is why we started to look at more environmentally friendly options, which led us to Innovia Films and NatureFlex™.”

NatureFlex™ NK was launched in 2008 and offers not only biodegradability and compostability, but also a moisture barrier approaching that of co-extruded OPP. This means it has the best moisture barrier of any biopolymer film currently available, which has been achieved through Innovia Films’ unique coating technology. Another advantage in using NatureFlex™ NK film is the increased shelf life it can give the product, keeping it in tip-top condition for longer. Packaging Knowhow advised Amigos International on choice of film and Hapece Flexible Packaging, a specialist in small runs, converted and printed the NatureFlex™ NK in this application.

NatureFlex™ 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 and converting such as inherent deadfold and anti-static properties, high gloss and transparency, resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases and aromas, print receptive surface and wide heat-seal range.

“Supplying Amigos International with NatureFlex™ NK to package their Ananda Chocolate is a win-win-win situation, as the transparent film offers high barrier, increases product shelf life and is certified compostable. The NatureFlex™ range continues to develop fast, driven by both consumer demand for greener alternatives - more sustainable packaging -, and by niche companies like Amigos International and large brand owners alike who see the differentiation and environmental benefits,” enthused Alexander van ’t Riet, Innovia Films’ Global Sales & Marketing Director.

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.