Enviroware takeaway clamshells and trays are now PFAS-free

Enviroware takeaway clamshells and trays are now PFAS-free

by | Oct 26, 2023 | Enviroware, News

EnviroWare® takeaway clamshells

and trays are now PFAS-free

Celebration Packaging is pleased to be able to confirm, that our range of white bagasse takeaway clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays are TÜV Home Compostable certified and are SGS certified as PFAS-free.

Bagasse hinged food boxes PFAS free
What are PFAS?

The man-made “forever chemicals” called PFAS (per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of common applications, from fast food packaging and non-stick cookware to firefighting foams and stain repellent chemicals for clothing and carpets. PFAS do not naturally degrade, and although they are safe to be used in food packaging and cookware, PFAS can eventually contaminate groundwater following their release into the environment.

 

Research is ongoing to assess the risk to humans from a buildup of PFAS in the human body. There are concerns that in very badly polluted areas, a large amount of PFAS could accumulate in the blood, potentially causing cancers and infertility1.

“We became aware of the PFAS issue some time ago and began to look for viable non-PFAS packaging in early 2022,” says Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton. “Since then, we have been working hard to ensure that we can deliver PFA-free packaging solutions for the takeaway, delivery and QSR sectors – and we are delighted to announce today that all our white bagasse clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays are now TÜV home compostable and that they are PFAS-free. To ensure that the bagasse fibre clamshells, chip trays and dinnerware are free from these forever chemicals, we arranged for SGS, an internationally renowned testing, inspection and certification company, to test them. The SGS test report shows that no PFAS and similar chemicals such as PFCA’s / PFOS’s / PFOA’s / PFHxS’s were detected.

“We believe that these PFAS-free white bagasse products to be the best alternative to foodservice packaging made from expanded polystyrene,” says Nick Burton “They are the perfect replacement for expanded polystyrene plates, trays and clamshells now that the SUP legislation has come into effect.

“Bagasse is a great material because it is natural and renewable, using waste fibres from agriculture that would otherwise be burned. The manufacture of bagasse fibre packaging also has a lower carbon footprint than its oil based comparable products2, but to make bagasse water and grease resistant, PFAS were traditionally added; our in-market trials show that this is no longer necessary.”

 

The PFAS problem

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) do not exist in nature and do not naturally degrade, which means they can end up contaminating groundwater for a very long time after their release into the environment.

Concerns around PFAS have been in the public domain for quite some time.  At the start of 2023, bans in six states of the USA were announced, and in March the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) opened a six-month consultation on the proposed restriction on PFAS with a closing date of 25th September 2023.

Shown above: HBB90 13 X 6″ White Bagasse Extra Long Clamshell (fish & chip box). Our latest mould for this product, includes embossing of the certifications. Most other items don’t show these symbols yet. 

Delivering PFAS-free bagasse packaging solutions

“Ever since we created the EnviroWare® brand, over 16 years ago, it has been our mission to seek out more sustainable packaging solutions,” says Nick Burton.

“Since the start of 2023, all our white bagasse clamshells, dinnerware and chip trays have been made with a different food safe, grease and water-resistant chemical, that is free from PFAS and this has allowed us to obtain TÜV Home Compostable certification for these products. We decided to wait to make the announcement until all in-market trials had been successfully completed. I am delighted to say that, as far as we are aware, none of our customers has noticed any difference in performance with the new PFAS-free white bagasse products.

“This new PFAS-free white bagasse fibre packaging looks exactly the same as the old range and can be used in a microwave to reheat food with no reduction in performance, but we are sure that operators and consumers will now be delighted to know that it is PFAS-free.

“Foodservice operators should check if the packaging they are using is PFAS-free,” concludes Nick Burton. “As a consultative business, we recommend that they talk to us if they have any concerns about the environmental impact of the packaging they use. We have been providing sustainable packaging solutions for many years and in the face of bans and taxes, we can help customers move away from single-use plastics and reduce their carbon footprint.”

References:

1 www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/index.html

2 Journal of Sustainable Energy & Environment 11 (2020) 61-69

Celebration launches disposable paper cutlery retail packs

Celebration launches disposable paper cutlery retail packs

by | Apr 26, 2021 | Enviroware, News

Celebration Packaging has launched its proven disposable and fully recyclable paper cutlery range in convenient retail packs.

“We’ve been supplying our award-winning disposable paper cutlery to the foodservice and takeaway sectors for quite some time, but we are now making the products available to the general public through retail channels,” says Celebration Packaging Managing Director Nick Burton. “Packs of paper knives, forks and spoons are already on-shelf with a leading retailer in Norway, and will soon be available here in the UK.”

Available in convenient packs of 20 knives, forks or spoons. Celebration Packaging’s recyclable EnviroWare® paper cutlery is made from paper produced from sustainable forestry and has full FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) chain of custody accreditations.  Celebration Packaging is BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards) certified, and the sustainable paper cutlery has been vigorously tested to meet relevant EU regulations, and is free from Bisphenol A.

The outer packaging is own-label branded to fit in with retailer’s existing retail homeware and picnic ranges, and enables consumers to see at a glance that the cutlery is environmentally friendly.

“In the foodservice and takeaway sectors, we’re seen as the paper cutlery experts,” says Nick. “Immediately after launching the range in 2019, we won an award in the Innovation Challenge at the lunch! show at ExCel, London. The judging panel said: ‘The EnviroWare® paper cutlery is a real contender for the future of foodservice cutlery’. We are excited to now make these sustainable products available through retail channels.”

Celebration Packaging’s recyclable EnviroWare® paper cutlery is now available in retail packs of 20 knives, forks or spoons, and can be own-label branded.

An alternative to plastic cutlery

In Europe, a ban on the sale of single-use plastic cutlery comes into force on 3 July. In the UK, while a ban on the supply or sale of single-use plastic straws and cotton buds came into effect last October, the banning of other single-use plastic items is still being debated.

“Disposable, but fully recyclable paper cutlery provides a perfect solution for consumers wanting to play their part in reducing single-use plastic packaging,” says Nick. “Many people think the focus on sustainability is something new and are then surprised to discover that we launched our EnviroWare® range over 13 years ago.”

Enviroware® Paper Straws feature

Enviroware® Paper Straws feature

by | Feb 1, 2020 | Enviroware

We’re pleased to be featured in this months issue (Feb 2020) of International Sandwich & food to go news.  Read the full article below. 

Making the right packaging choices to make a real difference

The UK food to go sector is growing rapidly and IGD Retail Analysis predicts that it will grow 26.4% over the next five years to be worth £23.4bn by 2024 – more than double the 12.5% growth rate expected in the wider food and grocery retail market. With the sector growing so fast, it is crucial that the industry considers the environmental impact of its packaging and makes the correct, well informed decisions.

“Our aim is always to inform, educate and then provide the most appropriate and environmentally friendly packaging solutions,” said Celebration managing director Nick Burton. “Establishments first need to discover which waste collection methods and facilities are available to them locally and align their packaging choices to those options. We generally recommend following the guidance produced by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), but we are happy to advise customers so that they make the correct choice for their particular application.

“Caterers certainly need to ensure that they have adequate collection methods and facilities ‘in-house’, but ‘food to go’ literally means that food packaging leaves their premises. So ensuring its disposal doesn’t undo all the good they’ve achieved inside their establishment means making the right packaging choices.”

Today’s discerning customers demand fresh, local, natural, organic, vegan, and other free-from food options, but they are also becoming increasingly interested in the provenance of its packaging. The issue for post-consumer packaging waste is ‘end of life’, so the right choices need to be made to ensure that packaging does not go to landfill, but is reused, recycled or commercially composted. And what the packaging is made from is just as important.

“As a leading food service sector supplier, we understand the increasing pressures our customers face in endeavouring to operate in an environmentally friendly fashion – and consequently we are constantly expanding our range with innovative products,” said Nick Burton. “We appreciate that it can be very difficult to choose packaging which is functional and cost effective whilst also having the lowest possible environmental impact. Many people think this important focus on sustainability is something new and are then surprised to discover that we launched our EnviroWare® range over 12 years ago.

“Our EnviroWare® range provides exciting and innovative eco-friendly food packaging, which contributes to our customers’ green offering and credentials. Our compostable packaging includes: cutlery, dinnerware, cups, platters, portion pots and other catering products and disposables. Once used, this range of packaging can be commercially composted along with food waste, where facilities exist.”

Sustainable material choices including FSC® certified Paper

Celebration and its EnviroWare® range offers packaging made from a wide range of sustainable materials including bagasse, PLA, CPLA, wood and paper.

Bagasse is a natural renewable and sustainable fiber material made from sugar cane (after the sugar has been extracted), and is used to make EnviroWare® portion pots, cups and lids, as well as boxes / clamshells, plates, bowls and trays.

We have a growing range of products made from FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) certified paper.  EnviroWare® paper cutlery, new 1oz and 2oz paper portion pots and Vegetarian society approved paper straws are all genuine eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic items.  The paper that produces these ranges, comes from sustainable forests and once used the items are commercially compostable.

Spreading the good news

“We believe that caterers should involve their customers in their sustainability story, telling them about the packaging choices they’ve made,” said Nick Burton. “This will help them to understand their role in ensuring a responsible ‘end of life’ for the food packaging from their establishment and improve their environmental sustainability credentials.”

Change of company name

Change of company name

by | Oct 8, 2019 | Celebration

On 8th October 2019 we officially changed our company name to:

Celebration Packaging Limited

Change of name from Celebration paper & plastics ltd

The decision to change our name from Celebration Paper & Plastics Ltd to the new one, was taken to futureproof our brand as our product range develops to include packaging made from many different materials; not just paper & plastics.

There has been no change to the ownership of the business and all other details (company registration number, VAT number and bank account numbers) remain the same.

Our company logo and other product category logos, such as EnviroWare®, have also been redesigned to bring them up to date and so that they now have synergy and share a common design.

New Paper Cutlery Range

New Paper Cutlery Range

by | Aug 1, 2019 | Enviroware

Paper is rapidly becoming a packaging star, with clear environmental advantages and practical functionality. Celebration’s EnviroWare® paper cutlery won a silver award in the Innovation Challenge at this year’s lunch! show. EnviroWare® paper cutlery is made from paper produced from sustainable forestry and has full FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) chain of custody accreditation. We stock two sizes of knife, fork and spoon – large and small – sizes are shown below; please click on the links below to visit each item product page. 

  • PAPKNIFEL – Paper knife – large 159mm
  • PAPFORKL – Paper fork – large 158mm
  • PAPSPOONL – Paper spoon – large 156mm
  • PAPKNIFES – Paper knife – small 132mm
  • PAPFORKS – Paper fork – small 129mm
  • PAPSPOONS – Paper spoon – small 132mm

Paper ice cream spoons are available by special order, we don’t currently hold stock.