Our Sustainability Push for Petite Bouche

It has taken over five years to find the material to suit the business model at Petite Bouche. 

"I'm excited to announce our new packaging for the Petite bouche Range; It's been a decade; what a fantastic journey we've been on; we're now at another point of the business where we are introducing a different product; for our packaging." - Tony Mann.

The company has finally found a packaging partner in Israel, Tipa, that produces a 100% home compostable product verified by The Australasian Bioplastics Association, the peak industry body for manufacturers, converters and distributors of bioplastic products and materials throughout Australia and New Zealand. The ABA dedicate itself to promoting biodegradable, compostable plastics based on renewable resources.

The push for compostable packaging in the business rather than biodegradable is because the term 'biodegradable' represents a process, but the decomposition rate can vary significantly. Technically, all chemical compounds can be biodegradable under the right conditions and will decompose over a certain period, but that time could be hundreds or thousands of years. For example, wood is biodegradable, but wooden structures don't break down and can stand for generations. If material is compostable, it means that under composting conditions (heat, humidity, oxygen, & microorganisms), it will break down to CO2, water, and a nutrient-rich compost within a specific time frame. " Single-use plastics will inevitably be phased out; We aim to have a plastic-free environment on our farms and in the marketplace." 

Export Fresh acknowledges the importance of becoming a more sustainable business and eco-minded in its practices. It is essential to operate with a positive environmental and ethical impact. "I know people don't like change, it's always the case, but we want to initiate this, and we want to achieve this for a cleaner environment, so I think a change may be worthwhile." According to the UN Environment Programme, 'Approximately 36 per cent of all plastics produced are used in packaging, including single-use plastic products for food and beverage containers, approximately 85 per cent of which ends up in landfills or as unregulated waste.' Therefore, 'systemic change is needed to stop the flow of plastic waste ending up in the environment.' It's up to all of us to work together as a team to get to this point of change because it will only change if we change. 

“We’re extremely proud of our partnership with Export Fresh and of their commitment to becoming a fully sustainable business.” Says Shane Sullivan, VP APAC at TIPA. “We see a general change in the Australian market towards eco-friendly packaging solutions, while more brands are trying to turn away from traditional plastic. This change is driven by consumer demand for plastic alternatives, as they are now more educated than ever about the impact of plastic packaging waste and have come to expect sustainable packaging from the companies they purchase from. Export Fresh’s customers can now rest assured knowing that the packaging we produce will end its life as intended - in nature, breaking down and leaving no waste behind."