USA – Eastman, in collaboration with SEE, has announced the launch of a compostable, lightweight tray designed as a drop-in replacement for traditional polystyrene foam trays in protein packaging that can work on existing industrial food packaging equipment.
What sets this innovation apart is its compatibility with existing industrial food packaging equipment, making adoption seamless for manufacturers.
Crafted from Eastman Aventa Renew compostable materials, the tray is a testament to sustainability.
These materials, derived from sustainably sourced wood pulp and recycled acetyl, ensure the tray can be composted in home and industrial environments.
The predominance of cellulose acetate from wood pulp means the trays break down naturally, leaving no microplastics behind.
The tray has already made waves in the market and has been successfully integrated into various applications.
Air’s Cryovac brand has introduced a compostable overwrap tray, leveraging Eastman’s innovative solution to meet consumer demands for eco-friendly packaging options.
Jeff Carbeck, Vice President of Corporate Innovation at Eastman, highlights the tray’s dual benefit: it performs like traditional plastic while offering a sustainable end-of-life solution through composting.
This aligns with both companies’ commitment to circularity, as Aventa Renew boasts a unique blend of biobased and recycled content.
Certified as both home and industrial compostable by TÜV Austria and the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), respectively, the tray meets stringent environmental standards.
Tiffani Burt, Sealed Air’s executive director of strategic marketing and sustainability for the Americas, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in driving circularity, acknowledging Eastman’s pivotal role in enabling innovative solutions like the Cryovac compostable overwrap tray.
In related developments, Eastman has partnered strategically with Debrand, a leading next-life logistics company specializing in sustainable solutions for apparel waste.
By leveraging cutting-edge molecular recycling technology, Eastman aims to transform 5,000 pounds of pre-and post-consumer apparel waste into Naia™ Renew fibers.
These circular fibers, comprising 60% sustainably sourced wood pulp and 40% recycled waste material, exemplify Eastman’s commitment to sustainability across diverse industries.
Through collaborations like these, Eastman continues to drive innovation and advance circularity in materials sourcing and production.
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