Home-compostable solution for pizza boosts take-and-bake applications

02 Jun 2020 --- A new packaging solution from Trade Island in New Zealand allows pizza to be baked in a mess-free, home-compostable tray. The tray, made from a by-product of sugarcane and corn, was created in partnership with New World grocery stores. Targeting take-and-bake pizza applications, retailers who have adopted the packaging solution report strong demand in convenience food in sustainable packaging.

“We’ve seen huge growth in our freshly topped gourmet pizza sales since changing to this new type of packaging. The convenience of being able to put the pizza directly in the oven in its tray and all the packaging being compostable and recyclable has really appealed to our customers’ values,” says Tony Ford, Owner of New Zealand-based grocery store New World Gate Pa.

Due to its round shape, the tray uses less space and fewer materials than a traditional square pizza box. Furthermore, the cardboard sleeve is compostable and recyclable, the bagasse tray is home compostable once used and the transparent plastic lid is made out of rPET, which means it is made of recycled PET and widely recyclable in New Zealand.

Pizza box waste has long been a frustration for environmentally conscious consumers. While most pizza boxes are made of recyclable cardboard, the cheese, grease and other toppings which drip from the pizza render the box unprocessable with general paper recycling. Composting is therefore an attractive option for any food option which soils the packaging.

“The sustainable packaging around ready-to-heat meals is a space we will continue to innovate in as our customers live and purchase more sustainably. Our customers have been incredibly receptive to the new home compostable and recyclable packaging and we’re looking forward to introducing more sustainable packaging solutions soon,” explains Rebecca Tuhakaraina, Foodstuffs North Island Category Manager for Delicatessen and Meal Solutions.

In addition to the wholesome feeling which comes with electing for a product packaged sustainably, the convenience of the packaging drives immediate rewards. New World notes that one of the major advantages of the plant-fiber packaging is that it reduces mess in the kitchen.
As the pizza is cooked in its packaging, ovens remain clean, New World notes. Furthermore, the tray can double as a storage device with its resealable lid that users can “pop into the fridge” to keep pizza leftovers.

Composting has been cited as an important step in a sustainable food chain. According to multi-stakeholder nonprofit ReFED, commercial composting has the potential to divert over five million tons of food waste from landfills annually.

Last April, Eco-Products, a Novolex brand, introduced compostable trays as the latest addition to its line of foodservice products, targeting grocery stores and food processors. Made from residual sugarcane fiber, the new trays are commercially compostable and meet US American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) certification for compostability.

Meanwhile, in February, Graphic Packaging International (GPI) launched a line of fiber-based trays called PaperSeal, which replaces Modified Atmosphere (MAP) and Vacuum Skin Packaging (VSP) plastic trays with a barrier-lined paperboard alternative. Using up to 90 percent paperboard, the trays are designed for the film liner to be easily separated from the paperboard after use. This facilitates the recyclability of the paperboard portion of the tray, which contributes to a circular economy.

Edited by Missy Green

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