Significant Eco Benefits Expected From Bio Sandwich Pouch

Convex Plastics, March 8th, 2010

A biodegradable food service sandwich pouch recently launched in the USA to pack fresh sandwiches is expected to provide significant reductions in CO2 emissions, crude oil use and packaging material waste.


Launched last November by Kansas-based Robbie Manufacturing, the Hot N Handy Bio-Pouch was designed to provide a more environmentally responsible packaging alternative to the rigid Polystyrene containers commonly used to pack fresh-prepared cold-case sandwiches and wraps at delicatessens, convenience stores and other retail locations.

The Hot N Handy Bio-Pouch is made from transparent NatureFlex™ NVS film, which is marketed in New Zealand by Convex Plastics.

NatureFlex films are made from cellulose-based material derived from renewable wood pulp sourced from managed plantations that either have or are actively working towards Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. NatureFlex films are also bio-degradable and certified under ASTM D6400 to compost within six weeks.

As well as benefiting the environment by being compostable, the NatureFlex™ NVS film has reduced the amount of packaging materials required to pack fresh-prepared sandwiches, and enhanced their quality by absorbing moisture that otherwise could make the bread soggy.

Robbie Manufacturing Product Manager, Tara Downing says, “Compared to rigid Polystyrene containers, this product uses 92 percent less crude oil, reduces CO2 emissions by 56 percent and reduces packaging material waste by weight by 75 percent. Using the Bio-Pouch also greatly increases the product-to-package ratio and reduces the amount of package per 100 grams of product. While the Bio-Pouch boasts a 56:1 ratio, the rigid container, at 13:1, offers a substantially lower product-to-package ratio.”

According to Robbie Manufacturing’s calculations, the Bio-Pouch takes 5.5 million pounds of material out of the supply chain annually, requires a 78% smaller corrugated case size to ship, allows for 171% more packages per pallet, and reduces the number of trucks required by 63%. These figures are based on estimated sales of 163 million sandwiches sold at US retail supermarket deli counters annually.

The Hot N Handy Bio-Pouch was officially recognised as an innovative sustainable solution for fresh-prepared sandwiches in November at the 2009 US Flexible Packaging Association Achievement Awards, where it won gold medals for both Packaging Excellence and Environmental and Sustainability Achievement.

Summing up the Hot N Handy Bio-Pouch’s advantages, one Greener Package Awards judge noted, “This entry, with its ‘Back to Nature’ approach to biodegradability, is commendable—especially if it is touted as disposable with the contents. The savings in materials are huge, at 5.5 million pounds of packaging. Well done!”