With the increasing demand from consumers for packaging with a minimal environmental impact, Gruppo Fabbri has developed Nature Fresh, the new home-compostable stretch film. As a compostable film, Nature Fresh combines its characteristics of biodegradability with the transparency, elasticity, breathability and mechanical resistance of plastic.
Miguel Isla, station manager at Mesfruits
What is Nature Fresh?
Made in Italy, this compostable film is composed of PBAT (polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate), an aliphatic-aromatic copolyester of fossil origin which, thanks to its molecular structure, can be broken down by enzymes. When decomposing in a compost system, it undergoes the following process:
1) Microorganisms colonize the surface of the polymer and secrete enzymes.
2) These enzymes break down the structure of the polymer into fragments of low molecular weight.
3) The fragments of low molecular weight are absorbed by the microorganisms and used to produce energy, which creates CO2 and microbial biomass.
The compost resulting from the biodegradation of PBAT is composed of biomass, water and CO2.
Nature Fresh: biodegradability beats setting up a costly and energy-consuming recycling industry
Nature Fresh has been certified “Home Compost” and “Industry Compost”. Therefore, it can be broken down via a specific industrial process, or just in a home-compost device. The organic recycling of Nature Fresh avoids the implementation of long, costly and energy-consuming processes associated with the selection and recycling of post-consumer plastic.
Gruppo Fabbri chose Mesfruits to test Nature Fresh on the French market
Thanks to a collaboration of over 20 years with Mesfruits, Gruppo Fabbri was able to test on a large scale and launch Nature Fresh by the end of 2019 on the French fruit and vegetable market. The apple specialist has preferred not to communicate the environmental properties of Nature Fresh to its clients for a better validation of its effectiveness. An ambitious strategy which has proven to be successful, since no difference in the physical properties of the stretch plastic film has been noted.
Nature Fresh is specifically adapted to work on high-speed machines (Automac range at Gruppo Fabbri), with which Mesfruits is equipped.
Nature Fresh will replace 40 tons of plastic film per year at Mesfruits
“With over 3 million trays packaged since January 2020, this new compostable film has demonstrated its reliability,” explains Miguel Isla, station manager at Mesfruits. At the heart of Mesfruits, this initiative makes perfect sense since it fits perfectly with the eco-responsible approach of the company. So far, it will save 40 tons of non-compostable plastic film per year.
For more information:
François Mestre
SARL Mesfruits
8258 Chemin des Châteaux, Les Vignères
F- 84300 CAVAILLON
Phone: +33 4 90 71 28 36
Fax: + 33 4 90 71 30 64
f.mestre@mesfruits.eu.com
Philippe Tourtier
Gruppo Fabbri
p.tourtier@gruppofabbri.com