Case Study: 'Wonky' bread well-wrapped in new compostable bags
Earth & Wheat delivers bread that would otherwise go to waste due to appearance standards or overproduction.
The UK’s first “wonky” bread box required an important extra element: an eco-friendly bag. Earth & Wheat found the ideal solution in the form of a home-compostable bag supplied by KM Packaging.
Earth & Wheat, a sustainable e-commerce store, directly connects UK bakeries with customers looking to reduce food waste. They deliver fresh bread that would otherwise have gone to waste due to appearance standards or overproduction. They also aim to reduce plastic waste and carbon emissions as much as possible.
The home-compostable bags from global flexible packaging and lidding films supplier KM Packaging not only offer the sought-after eco-friendly and sustainable attributes but meet other requirements of Earth & Wheat.
These included being able to print on the bag for branding purposes and for the bags to be compatible with the company’s automated bagging machines.
The C-Bag, from KM Packaging’s C-Range that has been developed in partnership with Treetop Biopak, ticked all the boxes.
The C-Range of compostable bio-plastic packaging has similar properties and look and feel to conventional plastic and includes shrink wrap, stretch wrap, cling film, adhesive tape, and nets.
Previously, Earth & Wheat had used plastic bags, which was considered incompatible with the brand’s values.
Earth & Wheat founder James Eid said: “Our mission is to reduce food waste in the UK, and we’re always looking at innovative ways to become even more sustainable. By using home compostable bags in our bread boxes, we have found a great alternative to using plastic.”
The new bags will disintegrate in a compost heap and then biodegrade into carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and biomass, leaving no harmful residue behind.
The printing on the bags has also strengthened the brand, generated more interest and increased customer subscriptions. In addition, the artwork contains a QR code that leads customers to information about the packaging and how to dispose of it.
The C-Bag successfully protects, presents, and preserves the “wonky” bread from Earth & Wheat. It is bio-based from renewable resources using versatile materials supplied in various grades and meets the Soil Association Standard for packaging materials.
It has TUV certification, which was developed to guarantee complete biodegradability in garden compost heaps and other slower-paced processes.
The C-Bag also has excellent impact and puncture resistance, good material perforation, and can be used as bin liners for organic waste collection.
To know more about the products, visit KM Packaging’s C-Range web page.
About KM Packaging
KM Packaging delivers reliable packaging solutions for the produce, ambient, chilled and frozen convenience food markets as well as for confectionery and snacks. Offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of lidding films available on the global market today, the company works closely with customers to find the right packaging solution to ensure their products are protected, presented, and preserved.
Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!
