Innovia Films (Wigton / UK; www.innoviafilms.com) is supplying its bio-based "NatureFlex" packaging films to US-based organic tea company, Carrington Tea (Closter, New Jersey; www.carringtontea.com). Debbie Shandel, executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Carrington Co., LLC, said: “For our organic tea we felt that a compostable package would complement our product. Flexible material also offered us a unique packaging approach and a chance for differentiation as tea bags are predominantly packed in a box or can.”

"NatureFlex" film is made from wood pulp and is certified to be more than 90% bio-based. The compostable material has high barriers to oxygen and moisture so the product stays fresh. The teas are packaged in a 20-bag retail-ready “soft pack”, which was developed with Canadian firm Fastik Label and Supply (Langley, British Columbia; www.fastik.com). This packaging format is rarely seen in North America although it is commonly used in Europe for economy-sized packs.