Swedish retail chain opts for Invercote Bio

Invercote Bio is a virgin fiber-based board coated with bioplastic, which makes the packaging compostable so that the used packaging can go into the same waste stream as any remaining contents.

The bioplastic used with Invercote Bio is Mater-Bi from the Italian company Novamont.

The result is better for the environment but costs more due to the more advanced properties of the bioplastic compared with those of traditional PE coatings.

Louise König, sustainability manager at Coop, said: ‘This decision was totally in line with our sustainability policy and is actually not that unusual because we incorporate sustainability thinking into all our business deliberations.’

The berry package, which is part of Coop’s own Änglamark line of products that are organic, fair trade or environmentally or allergy adapted, was developed by the printers Trosa Tryckeri in collaboration with the berry supplier Olle Svenssons Partiaffär.

‘Our aim was to develop a packaging that stands out from the usual rectangular boxes in the display freezer,’ said Trosa Tryckeri project manager Henrik Bjurbäck. ‘In addition, both we and Olle Svensson wanted to satisfy Coop’s desire to live up to the environmental profile of the Änglamark brand.

‘Invercote has a very good printing surface and behaves predictably. What was new for us was the bioplastic, which posed a challenge with regard to the choice of adhesive. The difficulty was to find a heat-setting adhesive that functions well technically during production whilst also withstanding the tough environment it is exposed to in freezers.

‘We solved that issue after contacts with both Iggesund and a broad network of adhesives suppliers.’