Lebensbaum selects compostable wrapping for organic tea range

German organic tea producer Lebensbaum has selected Innovia Films’ compostable cellulose-based NatureFlex NVR to pack its range of organic teas.

Lebensbaum’s sustainability strategy includes introducing packaging materials based on renewable resources. “NatureFlex combines the packaging quality and functionality we are looking for with our ambitioned environmental consciousness, which fits with our mission,” said Lebensbaum Managing Director Dr Achim Mayr.

Lebensbaum's organic tea with NatureFlex NVR packaging.

NatureFlex NVR is a two-side coated, heat sealable renewable and certified compostable film with an intermediate moisture barrier. It is suitable for box overwrap and individual flow wrap applications like the Lebensbaum tea application.

NatureFlex is made of wood from managed plantations operating on good forestry principals, FSC or equivalent. In a home compost bin or industrial compost environment, it takes several weeks to break down.

Innovia says NatureFlex offers packing and converting advantages such as inherent dead fold and antistatic properties, high gloss and transparency, resistance to grease and oil, good barrier to gases, aromas and mineral oils, and a wide heat-seal range.

Joachin Janz, Sales Account Manager for Innovia Films, said the company is “delighted” to be working with the tea and coffee industry.

“Our customers can tick various boxes easily relating to product safety and the objective to use a sustainable packaging material. NatureFlex films offer both suitable aroma barrier and a functional barrier to mineral oil migration, which has been scientifically confirmed to last for five years.

“Mineral oil barrier is especially welcome in the tea industry, where recent German publications highlight that various tea products have weaknesses concerning mineral oil protection,” Janz said.