Multi-award-winning Welsh artisan organic flour producer Bacheldre Watermill has chosen Innovia Film’s biodegradable and compostable material, NatureFlex^TM, to add the finishing touch to its stylish flour packaging.

Previously using a foil-based label, Bacheldre Watermill was delighted when Berkshire Labels offered the solution to move to a compostable label from its BioTAK^TM range that would fit with the existing compostable flour bags.

Berkshire Labels began its research for a completely biodegradable label in 2001, recognizing the need for environmentally friendly alternatives in the packaging industry. Its BioTAK line conforms to the Biodegradable and Compostable norm EN13432, and involves applying a 100%-biodegradable permanent adhesive to a substrate.

Bacheldre Watermill chose Innovia Films’ metallized NatureFlex NM for this product. NatureFlex NM is a cellulose-based film manufactured from renewable wood pulp and is metallized in-house. It is the only metallized biodegradable film suitable for home composting because the level of metal is so small — less than 0.02% — which slows the film’s degradation by a matter of days but does not otherwise interfere with its biodegradability. Modified coatings ensure excellent metal lay-down and adhesion, providing a very high moisture barrier with a transmission rate of less than 10 g/m²/day (30°C, 90% RH).

All NatureFlex films are certified to meet both European EN13432 and U.S. ASTM D 6400 standards for compostable packaging. The wood pulp is sourced from the managed plantations of referenced suppliers operating Good Forestry principals (FSC or equivalent). NatureFlex films typically have a renewable bio-based content of 95% by weight of material. They also offer natural and organic product manufacturers the ability to align their packaging message with the spirit of their product marketing.

Matt Scott, co-owner and founder of Bacheldre Watermill, says, “With the introduction of these new BioTAK labels made from NatureFlex, our packaging is now fully sustainable and compostable, is able to achieve biodegradation within just a couple of months, and certainly stands out as something special in the flour category.”

About Innovia

Innovia Films Ltd. is a major producer of Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) and cellulose (Cellophane^TM) films with production sites in the UK, USA, Belgium, and Australia.

The company holds a leading global position in the markets for labels and security films, coated packaging, overwrap, and biodegradable and compostable films under the brand-name NatureFlex, employing 1,400 people worldwide, with 900 based at Wigton, Cumbria, UK.

For more information on the BioTAK range, visit www.biotak.co.uk.

For more information on Bacheldre Watermill, visit www.bacheldremill.co.uk.

NatureFlex^TM is a registered trademark of Innovia Films Group.
BioTAK^TM is a registered trademark of Berkshire Labels Ltd.