Packaging
MWVs MWare Food Service Paperboard Receives Biodegradable Products Institutes Compostable Certification
Monday 15. March 2010 - MWV Paperboard for Disposable Cups, Plates, Bowls and Takeout Containers Will Feature BPI Compostable Certification Labels
MeadWestvaco Corp. (NYSE: MWV) announced today that its MWare food service paperboard has been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI). Cups, plates and other disposable containers made from MWare PLA-coated and uncoated bleached paperboard can be commercially composted with food waste and can feature BPIs compostable label.
“Consumers are increasingly concerned about how their habits impact the planet, including their use of disposable cups and plates,” said Dobbie Newman, director of Food Service Marketing, MWV. “Providing certified compostable solutions that can be diverted from the landfill waste stream and are made from renewable resources gives our customers additional options for meeting their food service packaging needs. While we recognize that commercial composting facilities for these products are limited, we view composting as an important end-of-life option for organic materials and believe that commercial composting capacity will continue to grow. This achievement is also an important element of enabling MWV to meet its own sustainability goals.”
All MWare paperboard materials are made from Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified, sustainably sourced paperboard and can be made with up to 30 percent post consumer recycled fiber. MWare Balance coated cup stock is made with PLA (polylactic acid), a bio-based resin that offers the functional performance of non renewable coatings but is made with annually renewable resources.
“All BPI approved products meet the stringent compostabilty requirements of ASTM D6400 or ASTM D6868, which assure that they will quickly disintegrate and biodegrade in a professionally managed composting facility,” said Steve Mojo, BPI Executive Director. “Our label has tremendous recognition with composters and municipal officials across throughout North America. It is exciting to see leading companies like MWV participating in our program.”
Each MWare product underwent a battery of tests to receive the ASTM D6868 compostable certification, the international standard for compostable plastic-coated papers. Certification ensures that all MWare baseline bleached paperboard materials are compostable in professionally managed composting sites and can be adapted to future innovations in coatings.
MWV is committed to sustainability in its own business practices, as well as helping customers achieve their sustainability goals. MWV was the first paperboard manufacturer to develop and introduce a food service-grade post-consumer recycled fiber hot beverage cup that complies with USFDA and ISEGA food contact standards.