Parkside develops compostable range for flexible packaging

Packaging Solutions

Parkside has created a pioneering range of paper and film barrier lamination films that are fully compostable and suitable for both home and industrial composting.

Parkside is the first flexible packaging company to successfully produce a range of barrier laminates that have completed the rigorous disintegration and eco-toxicity testing for home composting with recognised European laboratory, OWS. The duplex and triplex laminate structures have attained full accreditation under Vincotte’s OK Compost Home and Seedling certification after achieving a high degree of compostability even at ambient temperatures.

Flexible packaging materials are often unsuitable for recycling due to their multilayer lamination or co-extrusion nature as the recycler cannot separate the different materials. As a result, many flexible packaging products end up going to landfill or being incinerated. The compostable flexible packaging solutions developed by Parkside are a credible alternative to landfilling and incineration for non-recyclable packaging designs and environmentally sensitive brands.

Developed under the brand Park-2-Nature, the compostable laminates are manufactured from sustainable sources whilst remaining aesthetically pleasing, offering excellent graphic shelf appeal.

Steve McCormick, new product development director, said: ‘Our compostable solutions have taken more than four years to develop to ensure they meet the demanding testing standards. They demonstrate Parkside’s advanced packaging expertise and are a major step forward in the industry.

‘Our success in this area means that environmentally aware brand owners, retailers and consumers have a choice of barrier packs that can be disposed of in a composting environment. The Park-2-Nature compostable range is disposable through both composting and anaerobic digestion, offering a viable end of life solution for non-recyclable packaging and avoiding disposal in landfill.’