Sustainability Watch November 2010

Compostable Chip Bag

ATLANTA, Ga.—Boulder Canyon™ Natural Foods, a North American snack food manufacturer, has introduced a renewable, fully compostable package for its line of All Natural Kettle Cooked Potato Chips.

The new package is gaining attention because it looks, feels, and sounds the same as traditional chip bags. The bag is reportedly the first of its kind on the market to be made from a structure that incorporates metallized NatureFlex™ NKM from Innovia Films.

NatureFlex is a cellulose-based –flexible film made from renewable wood pulp, which is sourced from plantations that have Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar certification. The product contains more than 90 percent renewable content and is also compostable in both home and industrial settings.

"At Boulder Canyon Natural Foods, we are driven by a strong commitment to provide natural foods that are free of additives and artificial ingredients, while also being good to the planet," says Steve Sklar, senior vice president of marketing. "Our new compostable packaging ensures that we maintain that commitment by setting a positive example for the industry, educating consumers on key issues and enabling them to play a role in improving the environment by diverting waste away from landfills."

NatureFlex is not only compostable, but also confirmed as suitable for emerging "waste-to-energy" techniques such as anaerobic digestion. Genpak, the Canadian-based packaging converter that spearheaded the research and development of the Boulder Canyon bag, called on long-time partner, Innovia Films, to supply the film used in the structure.

According to Genpak development manager, Bill Reilly, "We recommended NatureFlex to Boulder Canyon for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the film performs well technically and has excellent moisture, gas, and light barrier properties that enhance shelf life and protect the product. Secondly, NatureFlex is very well aligned with Boulder Canyon's sustainability goals, so we knew it was an excellent fit for their company values." pP