In this episode’s case study we pay a visit to Patrick Gerritsen, CEO of Bio4Pack. Bio4Pack is a manufacturer of industrially compostable packaging solutions based in the Netherlands.

In this first video he introduces Bio4Pack’s packaging: How is their packaging different from conventional packaging, and how does it fit in a circular economy?

MAIN TAKEAWAYS

• Bio4Pack’s products are not home compostable, because a compost heap does not reach the required temperature to break down PLA into CO2 and water. Because of this, industrial composting is required.
• Different types of packaging require different materials, such cellulose or dextrose made from corn or sugarcane. The choice of material largely depends on the properties (such as flexibility/ rigidity) that the packaging application needs to have.
• An example of a circular packaging solution is recovering agricultural waste from rice paddies (which would otherwise be burned) and turning it into trays for fresh produce.