Sustainability of Huhtamaki's Chinet foodservice plates enhanced by transparent chain of custody, European biodegradability certificate

A leading worldwide manufacturer of consumer packaging, Finland-based Huhtamaki strives to offer environmentally superior solutions for food and foodservice packaging.

A leading worldwide manufacturer of consumer packaging, Finland-based Huhtamaki strives to offer environmentally superior solutions for food and foodservice packaging. As the latest step, after profound laboratory testing, the company's Chinet range of premium molded fiber foodservice plates have been certified for biodegradability according to DIN EN 13432-2000-12 and ASTM D 6400:1999. The certificates, granted by Din Certco Berlin, confirm that European-made Chinet products are in compliance with the EU Directive for biodegradability. Chinet plates are made from post industrial paper cup cuttings in a proprietary smooth-molding process originally developed in the United States, and they are recognized for their rigidity, functionality and premium finish. Today, Chinet is the North American market leader in premium Retail foodservice products. In Europe, the Chinet range has been successfully introduced for households as well as institutional caterers and casual restaurant chains looking for a convenient, cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative to chinaware. The European manufacturing unit in Honefoss, Norway, has used leftover cuttings from Huhtamaki's Finnish paper cup operation as raw material long before it became part of Huhtamaki in 1999. Today, the origin of the fiber material is well traceable and the fiber comes guaranteedly from forests that are under sustainable forestry programs. Sustainable sourcing of raw material and certified biodegradability will enhance the environmental positioning of the Chinet® range especially within the European Union and equip Huhtamaki with powerful arguments in environmentally sensitive markets such as Germany. In the longer run, Chinet® products will form an important part of the company's expanding range of sustainable foodservice packaging.