Packaging specialist Kobusch-Sengewald (Warburg / Germany; www.kobusch-sengewald.com) has developed a process for printing on biofilms by ensuring that the ink develops good adhesion on the unlaminated monofilm. In March 2007, Birkel (Mannheim / Germany; www.birkel.de) began marketing organic pasta packed in a compostable film produced from cellulose-based renewable raw materials and printed by Kobusch-Sengewald. The proportion of non-compostable material in the overall packaging must not exceed 5%, including the label adhesive and printing ink. Kobusch-Sengewald uses eight-colour flexographic printing to achieve its results.

The plastic fabricator has also recently developed a biodegradable and compostable film made of an extruded PLA blend. Final certification will take some time and at present the film is available in white, coloured and opaque. A transparent version is currently under development.