According to the Environmental Investigation Agency, by 2040, the amount of plastic in our oceans is going to outweigh the fish.
This chilling prediction is the driving force behind a UK firm determined to ensure it doesn’t come true.
BioPak, based just over the Gloucestershire border in Worcester, makes compostable packaging from renewable materials – and already supplies many businesses in the county including Gloucester Services, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, Off Grid Coffee and Goff’s Brewery.
Its industry-leading products, made from plants, include cups, bowls, containers, straws, trays, cutlery and napkins, with the company’s aim to help businesses which want to divert their food and packaging waste from landfill and convert it into nutrient-rich compost instead.
The footprint of BioPak’s renewable materials is significantly smaller than that of traditional plastics derived from fossil resources – with Ingeo™ bioplastic, for instance, having a footprint up to 80 per cent lower.
And it’s something more and more businesses and consumers are turning to, as they say no to plastic. Since 2020, BioPak’s customer base has increased by 40 per cent, with the rise of what it refers to as the ‘conscious consumer’.
Managing director, Leanne Osborne, said: ‘There is no planet B. That’s why it’s our mission to produce the most sustainable, environmentally friendly packaging on the market.
‘We champion compostable packaging and we’re focused on reducing tree-based paper and fossil fuel-based plastic used in foodservice ware by offering an eco-friendly alternative. We create compostable packaging solutions for a circular economy where there is no waste.
‘It starts with responsibly sourced materials, continues with ethical manufacturing processes, and ends with disposal options that see resources reused or regenerated.
‘Our plant-based products are designed to minimise the impact on our environment at each stage of their life cycle, by using materials that are both sustainably sourced and rapidly renewable.
‘We are dedicated to reducing consumption of fossil fuel-based plastic so future generations can grow and thrive in a better world.’
BioPak can even create custom branded sustainable packaging, too. Businesses can sign up for a free account online to purchase BioPak products, with the minimum order being one carton.
BioPak also offers free samples for new and existing customers with a £7.50 shipping fee.
