APP’s Bio Natura paperboard wins sustainability award

Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) has bagged Business Intelligence Group’s Sustainability Product of the Year award for Foopak Bio Natura compostable food packaging paperboard.  

27 Jul 2018 | By Sujith Ail

Rohan Rodrigues, director, APP India, said, “Foopak Bio Natura is specially designed for beverage cups and food service containers with heat-seal capabilities and good edge wick value.”

APP’s Foopak Bio Natura can be used as an alternative to plastic, foam and PE-coated food packaging. The paperboard is targeted at food service applications like hot and cold beverage cups and food packaging segment, the cup made from paperboard can sustain heat up to 440 degree Fahrenheit (220 degree Celsius).

Foopak Bio Natura cup stock is FDA-certified and meets the standards with the FTC’s (Federal Trade Commission) Green Guides for biodegradability and compostability. It is also OBA-free (optical brightening agents) paperboard which further adds to the safety for food and beverage segment.

According to APP, tests by the Isega Institute have shown scientific evidence of stock getting completely broken down and return to nature by decomposing in a matter of 12 weeks. Additionally, Bio Natura can be safely composted in a facility or home compost pile.

“We believe that with the growing demand for sustainable packaging solutions in India, products like Foopak Bio Natura will address the problem of sustainable packaging in the near future,” added Rodrigues.

“Achieving this award affirms our commitment to sustainability in all areas of our operation,” said Elim Sritaba, director of sustainability and stakeholder engagement at APP.

Felix Koh of APP, said, “Foopak Bio Natura provides the food and restaurant industries with a comprehensive suite of sustainable packaging solutions, bringing this compostable option to an underserved part of the market. We’re pleased to offer an alternative solution to packaging waste.”

Commenting on the availability of Bio Natura in India, Rodrigues said, “It will be made available in India once our product development team confirms our converters’ runnability on all types of cup-making machines in India.”

Along with the APP, other sustainability awards winners include P&G, Danone North America, Hilton Software, Seed Phytonutrients and Dow Chemical.