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Press
Release: British Potato Council
Eco Packaging - A new growth market for potatoes
November 13, 2001: British potato farmers could soon be growing a new type of crop - eco-friendly carrier
bags and packaging. Scientists have developed a method of turning potato starch into
fast food cartons, supermarket food trays and wrapping that is completely
biodegradable in a matter of days.
British potato farmers could soon be growing a new type of crop - eco-friendly carrier
bags and packaging. Scientists have developed a method of turning potato starch into
fast food cartons, supermarket food trays and wrapping that is completely
biodegradable in a matter of days.
The development could dramatically reduce the 4 million tonnes of packaging that ends
up in Britain's landfill sites every year, and help combat fast food litter. After use, the
potato starch packaging can be thrown on the compost heap or dug into the garden
where slugs, micro-organisms, and the action of rain and sun work together to break it
down so it vanishes into the soil within two to three weeks.
The new packaging is already being piloted on fresh produce in Sainsbury’s, who are
looking into expanding the range to trays for meat, fish and frozen microwave meals. It
is also suitable for disposable cups and stirrers.
Eco-friendly packaging was identified as a viable new market for farmers in research
conducted by the University of Wales for the British Potato Council (BPC). Nigel Jupe,
BPC Chief Executive, says it is generating a great deal of interest in the farming
industry.
"This biodegradable packaging opens up exciting new opportunities to potato
farmers. The potential market is enormous, and it is also excellent news for the
environment," he adds.
It takes 20 tonnes of low-grade or "reject" potatoes to produce one tonne of starch,
which can make 43,500 trays. British potato farmers would need to grow an additional
4million tonnes to replace the polystyrene food packaging in the UK.
Somerset based Potatopak is one of the first companies to be producing packaging
from potato starch. Chief executive Toby Matthews says after eight years of research
the company has successfully trialled plates and packaging at Glastonbury Festival,
Cambridge University and eco-fairs around the country.
"Uniquely, all our products are 100% biodegradable, 100% compostable and
non-toxic. They do absolutely no harm to human, animal or marine life, even if eaten
they are eaten by mistake," he says. The packaging is made primarily of potato starch
and some food-grade additives mixed with water.
Supermarkets and around 1,500 environmentally aware municipalities in Italy, Germany,
Norway and the Netherlands are already using carrier bags and bin liners made from
potato and corn starch. The bags feel like plastic, and are just as tough, say Italian
makers, Mater-Bi, but they decompose in around three weeks. The starch-based
material is also used to make disposable nappies.
At the moment potato starch is not produced commercially the in UK. Potatopak’s
starch comes from France Germany and Holland, but Mr Matthews is encouraging the
British potato industry to gear up to ensure they can meet demand as the eco market
expands.
Although it costs slightly more than conventional packaging, there is increasing
governmental pressure on manufacturers via eco-taxes to reduce the amount of plastic
and polystyrene packaging.
Notes to Editors:
· The UK produces 6 million tonnes of potatoes annually, of which 17 per cent suffers
storage and grading loss, and is currently used for stock feed. This amount could supply
enough starch for up to 2.4billion Potatopak trays.
· One major supermarket in UK uses 2.61billion trays per year.
· Polystyrene packaging is not biodegradable and when burned releases
chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer.
· In the UK we use three and a half million tonnes of plastic each year, with plastics
packaging accounting for over one third of this consumption. Most post-consumer
plastic waste is sent to a landfill site or incinerated, with only around 7% being recycled.
· Waste Strategy 2000 sets national targets for the recycling or composting of
household waste: 25% by 2005, 30% by 2010, and 33% by 2015.
· According to Waste Watch, it is estimated that only 5% of dustbin contents are
recycled or composed in the UK and around 85% of household waste is landfilled. In
comparison, Switzerland only landfills 11%, Denmark 20%, Japan 21%, the
Netherlands 30% and Sweden 34%.
· The British Potato Council is funded by Britain’s 8,600 potato farmers, packers and
processors.
Ends
Further information, recipes, photographs and releases can be downloaded from the
BPC website www.potato.org.uk or contact:
Kathryn Race British Potato Council; 01865 782276; krace@potato.org.uk
Jennifer John Ceres Partnership; 0118 947 5956; jennifer.john@ceres-pr.co.uk
Toby Matthews Potatopak; 01963 362744; Tobym@potatopak.co.uk
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