Leading fresh produce brand New Zealand Gourmet has introduced Punchbowl Packaging’s innovative fibre trays for its packaged truss tomatoes.
The trays are made from renewable, plant-based materials - replacing a product made from a petroleum base.
The trays, made from renewable wheat straw, are compostable in industrial compost systems and can also be recycled.
The move away from plastic trays signals New Zealand Gourmet’s intention to utilise environmentally considerate packaging while ensuring its fresh produce is still protected by durable packaging.
New Zealand Gourmet was able to use its existing packaging equipment as the machinery could already accommodate fibre packaging.
The trays hit supermarket shelves at the beginning of January and New Zealand Gourmet says the fibre product performed well. The company is now considering other applications for Punchbowl’s packaging innovation.
New Zealand Gourmet's production director for protected crops, Roelf Schreuder, says: “With the new tomato trays, New Zealand Gourmet is making the next step in reducing plastic waste and making our products more sustainable. The creative input from Punchbowl Packaging was very helpful during the development process.”
Shane Craig, General Manager of Punchbowl Packaging, says his team was delighted to be able to offer New Zealand Gourmet a more sustainable option for its truss tomato packaging. “We’d love to help New Zealand Gourmet again as the company ploughs ahead with plans to make its packaging as environmentally-considerate as possible.”
