News

Rovipak Packaging Solutions (RPS) has developed a biodegradable version of its chicken dome pack to meet growing demand from consumers, manufacturers and retailers for packaging with a reduced environmental impact.

The biodegradable chicken dome, like RPS’s original version (Packaging News, July 2004), is moulded to follow the contours of the bird, but is manufactured from transparent PLA – a starch derivative that can be produced from maize and other plants.

When disposed of in a domestic or municipal compost heap, the dome and the film underneath will break down in between 50 and 100 days, depending on the gauge of the material.

RPS is in talks with a number of companies, including supermarket brands, about supplying them with the new PLA domes as well as the original APET PE laminate version.

The use of compostable packaging can cut costs for supermarkets, who will pay less of a levy by reducing wastage and using biodegradable packaging waste.

“In many ways the dome is ahead of its time, but business drivers like the packaging waste levy, coupled with rising concern for the environment makes the dome the smart choice for poultry packaging,” said Trevor Potter, RPS’s managing director.

RPS developed the original chicken dome two-and-a-half years ago, then developed the compostable version. The company has also developed a version with a built-in foil tray for pre-basted or marinated birds.

Separately, plastics packaging firm Anson is producing what it believes is the market’s first PLA sandwich container. It is trialling the product with food packager Tri-Star and the latter’s client, Daily Bread.