TekniPlex Consumer Products, a materials science and manufacturing technologies company, has secured Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification for its compostable foam protein tray.
The certified protein tray, part of TekniPlex's GeoPack range, is designed to biodegrade in industrial compost facilities, offering a greener alternative to traditional packaging solutions.
Manufactured in the US, the tray is made of cellulose-based direct food-contact material.
It serves as a convenient replacement for polystyrene foam trays, fitting seamlessly into existing overwrap equipment used in case-ready packing environments.
The tray is also suitable for less automated settings such as in-store or back-of-house packing operations.
It is designed for packaging meat, poultry, and seafood products.
TekniPlex's GeoPack line embodies the company's '4 Rs' - reduce, recycle, reuse, and renew.
The line is claimed to be recyclable and comprises post-consumer recycled content.
It also complies with legislative regulations.
The GeoPack range includes products such as moulded fibre egg cartons, agricultural trays for produce, and egg cartons with 100% post-consumer recycled content.
These solutions are designed to align with customers' sustainability goals and provide transparent environmental impact data.
TekniPlex new product development vice-president Chuck Gallagher said: “When we look at the current market segments within TekniPlex’s Consumer Products division, sustainability means different things to various stakeholders.
“For protein packaging, alternatives to polystyrene foam are limited compared to other segments. Packing protein at scale using fibre-based packages can be a challenge due to the wet packaging environment.
"Without necessitating substantial equipment investments, the GeoPack compostable tray introduces sustainability elements without sacrificing durability - a crucial factor for the case-ready landscape."
In January this year, TekniPlex Healthcare added a new multilayer blown film manufacturing line in a cleanroom environment at its facility in Puurs, Belgium.
