The sustainable packs from US producer, Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, are being sold in US retail outlets and Innovia said it worked in conjunction with Canadian packaging converter group Genpak to ensure its NatureFlex NKM could be utilized with this type of food product.
Steve Sklar, senior vice president of marketing for Boulder Canyon, said the new bags for its All Natural Kettle Cooked Potato Chips line allows the snack maker to set a positive example for the industry as well as “educating consumers on key issues and enabling them to play a role in improving the environment by diverting waste away from landfills.”
Zena Bergmann, a spokesperson for Innovia, told FoodProductionDaily.com that this is the first time the NKM material has been incorporated into crisp packaging.
She said that Genpak spearheaded the research and development of the bag, with Innovia supplying the film used in the structure.
Genpak development manager, Bill Reilly said that the converter selected NKM for use in the crisp packs as it “performs well technically and has excellent moisture, gas and light barrier properties.”
The flexible film, claims Innovia, is noted for its deadfold and anti-static properties, as well as high gloss and resistance to grease and oil, and is manufactured from renewable wood pulp sourced from plantations that have Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar certification.
“The product contains over 90 per cent renewable content as measured by ASTM 6866 and is also compostable in both home and industrial settings, meeting the requirements of ASTM D6400 and EN13432 standards by composting within six weeks,” added the company.
And the packaging supplier said that the new bags look, feel and sound the same as traditional, non-compostable crisp packs.
Frito Lay recently withdrew their new plant-based polylactic acid (PLA) packaging for its crisp brand, SunChips, for being too loud. The company also noted declining sales for the range in the 18 months since the introduction of the environmentally friendly bag.
Speaking to this publication last month, Frito Lay, said that it is in the process of developing a quieter form of compostable packaging for the crisp brand.