We're pretty darn excited to be moving to our next-generation compostable pouch packaging, in line with our sustainability goals here at Mount Zero.
Made by Convex Innovative Packaging, these incredible pouches are fully home-compostable and will allow us to not only reduce waste but also enable us to package our grains and pulses more efficiently. Oh, and by the way – they'll now come with a fully compostable snap-seal for easy pantry storage after opening!
What are Mount Zero's compostable pouches made of?
The principal material used in our grain and pulse packages is cellulose, which is derived from eucalyptus wood pulp and sourced from responsibly managed forests. The cellulose layer provides an excellent barrier to oxygen, moisture, oils and aromas to keep our pulses and grains fresh, with an additional layer of cornstarch added to allow the pouches to be heat-sealed.
The cellulose films used by Convex are made by a company called NatureFlex, which makes a range of certified compostable products. Central to their goals as a business are the preservation of biodiversity, minimal impact on ecosystems, reduction of chemical usage, responsible water usage, rights of workers and indigenous populations, and proper planning for native forestry and plantations. None of NatureFlex's compostable films contain any GMO inputs.
Biodegradable vs. Compostable Packaging
These two terms often get thrown around together, but they represent two very different things.
Compostable packaging products are required to meet a stringent set of criteria such as:
- The time it takes to break down
- The environmental conditions it will break down in; and
- The quality and non-toxicity of the compost produced.
Compostable packaging must break down into water, CO2, and biomass at a rate consistent with other biomaterials. Also, there must be no negative chemical effects on the final compost, which is ensured through eco-toxicity testing.
Biodegradable, on the other hand, simply means that an item will break down over time due to natural processes, but it does not account for time or the manner of degradation. Unlike compostable packaging, products labelled 'biodegradable' are not required to meet any eco-toxicity or break-down timeframe requirements, so they can take a long time to break down and even have detrimental effects on soil health.
How to Compost Our Pulse and Grain Pouches at Home
As is the case with all composting, there are a few factors to consider to make sure our pulse and grain pouches break down efficiently in your home compost.
Heat, moisture, and a healthy population of worms and microorganisms are essential to successful composting. When adding in your pouches, mix them in with other organic materials like food scraps, yard waste, and other compostable items to create a balanced mix of carbon and nitrogen that will help to break them down. Then let the microorganisms do the rest! Your pouches should be fully composted in around 12 weeks, however, the snap seal (whilst also compostable) will take a bit longer due to it being thicker than the rest of the pouch.
To see a timelapse of NatureFlex's compostable films in a compost environment, watch the video below: