Transport trays and pots from recycled paper

Modiform is launching an additional new product range under the name EcoExpert, made from 100% recycled paper waste. The transport trays of EcoExpert can be used to transport plants from grower to retailer and can then easily be recycled by the retailer, along with all of their other cardboard waste. As for the pots, which end up with the consumer, they can either put them in their cardboard recycling bin or their green waste bin. If they wish, they can even plant them in their garden and let the roots grow through the paper pot. The pot will degrade in around four months in the ground. EcoExpert is fully resistant to water, making if very manageable in the supply chain.

Modiform already has many closed loop recycling systems for their plastic product range, which are all made from recycled materials taken from society. These recycling systems work well with many retailers, growers and other elements of the horticultural supply chain. However, early on Modiform felt a movement towards additional packaging systems that could be recycled practically and easily by retailers and consumers. With plastic being a hot topic currently, consumers have been given a lot of information with regards to packaging, some of which is true and some of it is lacking in good packaging knowledge. This recent media has led governments and retailers in many different European countries to consider and commit to alternatives next to plastic.

Modiform tried many different types of plastic for their products. They even tried PLA, a plant based polymer, but quickly realised, along with most of the food industry, that to use this material was just like putting a sticking plaster over a serious injury. Shaun Herdsman, EcoExpert Division Leader “The material could easily be used to create products, but after testing with recyclers and industrial compost companies, we found out that it didn’t degrade properly and made a mess of the plastic recycling system”.

Modiform looked to other industries to see the direction that they were moving towards for retail packaging and found that the Fruit and Vegetable sector was starting to use moulded paper to cushion, protect, transport and retail produce. Jeroen Ravensbergen, CEO of Modiform “straight away we saw the potential for this material in horticulture. We set up the EcoExpert brand and opened our third division within Modiform to bring an additional product range to market”.

Modiform tested the moulded paper material with growers and retailers for the last two years. This IPM, they launched the EcoExpert brand with five different products; three transport trays to carry 9cm, 10.5cm, 12cm, 13cm or 19cm pots and two pot sizes of 13cm and 19cm diameter. Roy Van Heugten, Product Manager EcoExpert “we’re very excited about this range. We’ve put a lot of work into it over the last few years and we are already talking to some big retailers about using it. Just last week three supermarkets contacted us about it in just one day.”

Modiform plan to increase their EcoExpert product range further and are using the IPM to talk to growers, marketers and retailers to find out which products will be required in the market. Jeroen Ravensbergen, CEO Modiform “our philosophy hasn’t changed with this new product range. We believe in using the right product design, material or manufacturing technique for the right situation. Plastic continues to be fantastic material for Horticulture, but now Modiform can offer an extra choice to help our customers with their challenges. The challenge is to think in terms of circularity and cradle to cradle for both plastic and paper.”

For more information:
Modiform
Ambachtsweg 15
3831 KA Leusden
The Netherlands
T. +31 (0) 33 434 31 66
E. sales@modiform.nl
www.modiform.nl