Jun 30 2004
The introduction of air-pillow packaging systems was one of those simple, yet brilliant ideas, offering lightweight, cost effective protection to the pack contents. But the one drawback has always been the pressures of environmental legislation which in today’s market is becoming more and more of an issue. Buyers are becoming increasingly aware of these issues and the cost implications can no longer be put to one side.
Always striving for cleaner, safer, more innovative products, Stanelco Plc has developed a biodegradable material that elegantly overcomes these issues.
Made from a unique starch blend, this new material can be used in air-pillow envelope packs and is entirely biodegradable. It is compostable and water soluble, removing the current requirement to dispose of air-pillow envelope packs the old-fashioned way – in landfills or incinerators!
Compared with traditional plastic bubble packaging materials such as HDPE, LDPE and polypropylene Stanelco’s new material is far less abrasive, has greater barrier properties and retains the air in the pockets much longer.
The cost is becoming comparable to the costs of conventional packaging making it highly competitive – in fact, Stanelco predicts that the market the world over will have little choice but to use this type of product in the coming years.
Stanelco CEO Ian Balchin says "now consumers can safely discard unwanted packaging made from Stanelco's materials on their compost heaps, in their washing machines or dishwashers. With Stanelco's low cost packaging materials now available industries and governments no longer have the excuse that green packaging is not economical."
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