Compostable packaging

As a sustainability-focused organisation we are concerned about the environmental impact in all areas of our business. That’s why, where possible, we choose to use compostable packaging for many of the food products across our range.

Compostable chocolate wrappers, cellophane inner pouches, cardboard cartons and bulk-size compostable bags are just some of the packaging solutions we use to ensure our products are packaged in materials that are as sustainable as possible. For more details, you can read more about our Packaging Plan here.

Our TPI (Tea Promoters India) range of teabags are 100% plant-based and contain no polypropylene. They can be composted industrially, and are certified compostable by TÜV Austria with the OK Compost Industrial label. You can read more about our tea here.

Trade Aid has been using Econic compostable wrappers for our chocolate wrapper since 2014. We chose Econic compostable packaging for our chocolate block and bars because it’s designed to retain the functionality and food safety provided by traditional plastic films, but without the impact on the environment.

Trade Aid chocolate wrappers are compostable when disposed of in an active composting environment. The ideal environment will contain heat, water, oxygen, soil and micro-organisms. If you are missing one of these elements, for example your home compost is too dry, the composting process will not be as effective.

Compost trials completed by Econic have shown that their bags can break down into small fragments in as little as 16 weeks, but the rate of breakdown will vary depending on the compost environment.

To help the composting process, you can shred your wrappers into small pieces before adding to your home compost pile.

How to start a compost system:

1. Learn about compost. A bit of background research makes all the difference!
2. Choose your container. Compost bins, pallets, compost tumblers or a simple compost heap are a few options.
3. Find a sunny position in your garden.
4. Add items to your compost in groups of “brown” carbon-containing items (newspaper, straw, leaves, brown paper) and “green” nitrogen–containing items (food scraps, lawn clippings, Trade Aid chocolate wrappers, Trade Aid coffee grinds).  The ratio should be one third “green” nitrogen and two-thirds “brown” carbon. Add some water between each layer.
5. Mix regularly, every 2-3 days. If it starts to get smelly, gluggy and dense, add more carbon-containing items.
6. In 6-8 weeks you will have beautiful rich, dark brown compost. Some items such as compostable wrappers may take longer to decompose.

For more information about Econic wrappers visit www.econicpack.com