News & Press Releases

ASP Provide New Bio-degradable Packaging

From Produce News, January 2002.

Environmentally-friendly packaging is now high on the agenda of the UK’s major food retailers.

Today, a new generation of bio-degradable packaging materials is emerging in response to increasing concerns over the problems of littering, landfill and deterioration of the environment.

One company at the forefront of these developments is ASP Packaging Ltd, who specialise in the conversion of both conventional and bio-degradable flexible packaging films.

With core business activity in the Fresh Produce Industry, Hot Bread, Bakery and Prepared Sandwich markets, ASP offer micro-perforation, printed films, anti-mist and modified atmosphere films, with finished product available in both reel and wicketted bag form.

Committed to continual improvement in quality assurance, ASP was the first Flexible Packaging Converter to achieve accreditation in the British Retail Consortium’s BRC/IoP Technical Standard. This scheme has the backing of the UK’s major food retailers and incorporates ISO9001:2000, HACCP and Hygiene Certification.

Working closely with major film manufacturers, ASP have developed a range of biodegradable packaging materials, including NatureFlex™ flowrap films, NATURA bio-degradable and compostable produce netting and ASP bio-degradable stretch films.

Developed jointly by Innovia Films and ASP, NatureFlex™ NVS Films are manufactured from regenerated cellulose, with speciality barrier coatings which contain natural minerals and resins. Their principal raw material is wood pulp taken from managed farm plantations, generally from fast growing eucalyptus.

The NatureFlex™ range provides speciality packaging films, deriving from sustainable natural resources, which are naturally bio-degradable under controlled conditions and do not required the incorporation of additives designed to break down materials which otherwise would not degrade.

NatureFlex™ has already been adopted by the major Supermarkets to flowrap organic fruit and vegetables.

ASP is also heavily involved in the development of starch-based bio-degradable produce netting and bio-degradable stretch films.

Major UK retailers have already introduced these materials into their organic fruit and vegetable ranges and it is likely that bio-degradable materials will be adopted to pack conventional products.

ASP’s investment, expertise and commitment in both conventional polymers and bio-degradable materials demonstrate the desire to stay at the forefront of innovation and technology, whilst always remembering that both sectors complement each other.

Sales Director Mr Alan Campbell comments:
”As someone slightly cynical in terms of claims of bio-degradability, we have seen enormous advances in the development of materials manufactured from renewable resources. Also, with strict European measurement norms coming into place, materials now require proper certification as to their ability to degrade and compost.

“We recently converted a starch based film into wicketted bags. The performance in terms of slip, seal strength and clarity was excellent. Our only problem was in trying to punch holes - the material was so strong, our punches just bounced off!

“If we can develop materials of this potential, perhaps we are not too far away from potato fields being planted to serve the food chain as a viable bio-degradable packaging material, rather than just the humble chip!”