Tipa secures major US partnerships in North American compostable packaging expansion

30 Jun 2023 --- Israel-based compostable packaging specialist Tipa has partnered with two of the largest packaging manufacturers in the US, PPC Flexible Packaging and Clearview Packaging. 

Tipa says the partnerships will grow its global customer base, enhance local manufacturers’ capabilities, and reduce global carbon emissions by cutting shipping lengths. 

In the next few months, Tipa expects to partner with additional manufacturers.

With main US facilities in Illinois and Utah, PPC Flexible Packaging will add Tipa’s compostable laminates to its manufacturing portfolio to produce pouches for packaging baked goods, dry food, supplements, vitamin and other products.

New York-based Clearview Packaging will use Tipa’s compostable films to produce packaging applications such as open bags, wicketed bags, resealable bags, zipper bags and mailers for fashion garments, accessories, fresh produce, baked goods and frozen food.

An example of Tipa compostable packaging.Tatiana Castro, VP of Sales & Marketing of PPC Flexible Packaging, says, “our choice to partner with Tipa was driven by their extensive market knowledge, high-quality solutions and seamless integration with our existing facilities and operations.” 

“An important milestone”
Trent Romer, sustainability operating partner of Clearview Packaging, says the new partnership with Tipa will ensure the company’s entire supply chain and “support local partners to enhance sustainable business practices.”

“Our decision to add Tips’s compostable materials to our offerings for custom packaging comes from our mission to meet the growing demand for sustainable packaging combined with Tipa’s plug-and-play technology that makes the transition seamless.”

Daphna Nissenbaum, CEO and co-founder of Tipa says the company has doubled down on its commitments to expand operations in the most strategic markets. 

“Our partnerships with PPC and Clearview represent an important milestone in the fight against plastic pollution and we admire the commitment of both companies to sustainable manufacturing processes. We’re excited to see the impact of our work with PPC and Clearview across the US," she says. 

Tipa’s rapid expansion
After expanding its European activity earlier this year through the acquisition of compostable packaging company Bio4Pack and entering the Australian market in 2021, Tipa is now focusing on expanding its North American activity.

Flexible packaging accounts for an estimated 40% of packaging globally. But less than 1% in the US, predominantly used for food and fashion, is recycled. 

With more than 300 million metric tons of flexible packaging produced yearly, Tipa aims to replace this packaging with compostable alternatives that mimic the positive properties of conventional plastic packaging, such as durability, printability and transparency. 

With appropriate end-of-use, when placed in a home or industrial composter, the packaging turns into nutrient-rich soil within a few months.

However, a UK study last year found that most home compostable plastics don’t work, with 60% failing to disintegrate after six months. 

The study found 10% of people can effectively compost at home, but for the remaining 90% of the population, the best place to dispose of compostable plastics is in landfills. “Most compostable plastics end up in landfill or are burnt,” the researchers state. 

By Louis Gore-Langton