Bioplastic represents an important opportunity to move away from conventional plastic packaging. Conventional plastic packaging is made from limited fossil resources that are set to become much more expensive in coming decades. As we begin to transition to renewable resources for all of our needs it's crucial to find alternative sources for our packaging needs like perennial vultures including cassava and sugarcane or annual crops such as corn and sugar beet.
Using renewable resources for food packaging also presents the opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By using plants to make things, we are effectively taking carbon out of the atmosphere temporarily and can extend this effect by recycling or composting these materials to create a feedback loop in the system where the true value of the materials is utilised.
This potential can be exploited most effectively by establishing 'use cascades'. 'Use cascades' are where renewable resources are firstly used to produce materials and products before being used for energy recovery. This means either using renewable resources for bioplastic products, mechanically recycling these products several times and recovering their renewable energy at the end of their product life; or using renewable resources for bioplastic products, organically recycling them (composting) at the end of a product's lifecycle and creating valuable biomass/humus during the process. This resulting new product facilitates plant growth, thus closing the cycle.
Furthermore, packaging that is biobased and compostable can help to divert biowaste from landfill and increase waste management efficiency. All in all, bio-based packaging can raise resource efficiency to its (current) best potential.
At Planet Friendly Packaging we help change business practices and environmental outcomes towards a more ethical and sustainable future by distributing the BioPak biodegradable and compostable range of packaging.
Planet Friendly Packaging distributes a selectively chosen range of BioPak biodegradable and compostable food and beverage packaging to help everyday business owners reduce their costs and environmental impacts.
We supply the BioPak range of compostable and eco-friendly packaging including; biodegradable coffee cups, compostable food containers, plates, bowls, boxes, clamshells, biodegradable napkins, bioplastic and compostable wooden cutlery, biodegradable straws and bags.
Click here to find out more about the product range.
Bioplastics are plastics made from organic sources. They are renewable and take a shorter time to decompose fully. They are environmentally friendly for businesses. BioPak use bioplastics in their clear cups and lids, bowls, coffee cups and lids, sauce containers, cold cups and lids, sushi tray lids and bioplastic bin liners.
No, Bioplastics used for food and beverage packaging are approved for food contact, but are not suitable for human consumption.
No, nothing in the BioPak range or on this website contains BPA.
BioPak's bioplastic products are designed to return to the soil through composting. If thrown into the bin they will end up in a landfill. Bioplastic does not biodegrade in landfill conditions. However, it is still environmentally better than plastic, as the CO2 absorbed during the growth phase of the plant is stored and locked up in the material.
BioPak's clear cups, bowls and cutlery have a 6 - 12 month shelf life at least and must be stored below 35 degrees Celsius. Do not store in direct sunlight, near heat sources or heaters. Our bioplastic bags have a 6 month shelf life from purchase and must be stored out of direct sunlight and below 35 degrees Celsius.
People and businesses that use forest products need the credentials to prove that their operations are environmentally, socially and economically responsible. This is where FSC comes in, to ensure that customers get a guarantee that your products are from responsibly managed supply chains. BioPak use FSC certified paper in all of their products, including their paper straws, cup carry trays, clamshells, boxes, trays and chip cups.
The paper in BioPak products is sourced from managed plantations and the following suppliers: Stora Enso, WestRock or Clearwater Paper. Like us, each of these companies is committed to environmental responsibility and sustainability.
Sugarcane pulp is made from the crushed stalks remaining after the juice is extracted from sugarcane. It is a compostable, rapidly renewable and biodegradable resource. BioPak's sugarcane pulp products are made by pressing the pulp at high pressure and temperatures into a molded form. It is sterilised and santised and conforms to FDA administration guidelines. BioPak use sugarcane pulp (bagasse) for our range of clamshells, takeaway containers, plates, bowls and trays. We prefer sugarcane pulp to paper as the raw material is fast growing and rapidly renewable.
Using sugarcane instead of paper helps to protect forests. While 5 tonnes of wood are needed to produce 1 tonne of pulp for paper, only 1.5 tonnes of sugarcane pulp are needed to produce the same amount. Sugarcane pulp packaging production requires fewer toxic chemicals. Agricultural crops are easier to turn into pulp than wood is and consequently, they require smaller quantities of toxic solvents to turn them into pulp for paper-making.
Sugarcane is much more rapidly renewable than paper from virgin forests. This waste stream product will be available as long as we are growing sugarcane for food production.
BioPak's sugarcane tableware will handle hot food and beverages up to 120 degrees centigrade. They are microwave and freezer safe, have a high resistance to grease and are water resistant. Unlike paper or plastic containers, our BioCane takeaways are oven-safe. They can be heated in the microwave and oven up to 220 degrees centigrade. So you can now make ready-to-serve meals off site, freeze them for transport and reheat in the oven for serving.
Yes, our sugarcane pulp products will biodegrade in any compost environment. The rate of decomposition depends on the composting conditions - the temperature, turnover rate, moisture, etc. Just like other compostable material, products will biodegrade much faster if they are broken into smaller pieces. Sugarcane pulp will biodegrade at the same rate as other fibrous garden waste in a home composting system. They will biodegrade within 120 days in a commercial composting facility.
Yes! As long as the material is not too contaminated with food waste, sugarcane pulp products can be recycled along with mainstream paper and cardboard.
Yes! We have a plastic-free and tree-free takeaway container that works. Our BioCane takeaways have a perfect seal and are freezer, microwave and oven safe. They can be heated in the microwave and oven up to 220 degrees centigrade. So you can now make ready-to-serve meals off-site, freeze them for transport and reheat in the oven for serving.