BioMass Packaging broadens its range of bio-friendly alternatives

06/ 1/2012

Biofuels Digest
In California, BioMass Packaging has broadened its range of bio-friendly alternatives to foodservice staples with the addition of new paper cold cups manufactured from renewably sourced paper fibers. Eschewing the polyethylene that is normally used to line paper cups, these new PLA-lined cold cups use a plant-based Ingeo lining to provide leak-proof performance.  » Read More

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Artisan ice cream shop serves up 'natural' packaging to attract LOHAS customers

05/30/2012

Packaging Digest
Ici Ice Cream of Berkeley, CA, has developed a loyal following of desert lovers who crave its assortment of fresh, natural ice creams, sorbets, candies and cookies. One reason that Ici attracts consumers who are interested in a lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) is that Ici sources the finest ingredients from local farms and producers that are committed to organic and sustainable practices. But another important aspect of the Ici brand is presentation—for display purposes as well as for in-store and to-go packaging.   » Read More

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Another Nail In The Coffin Of Polystyrene: Sustainably Sourced Cold Cups

05/23/2012

Green Packaging Group
Here at BioMass Packaging, we’re always on the hunt for planet-friendly substitutes for everyday products. This is part of our ongoing mission to green the waste stream of foodservice operators, especially those that utilize single-use serveware. As a reader of this blog, I’m sure you’re well aware of the environmental hazard posed by polystyrene cups (sometimes referred to by its brand name, Styrofoam).You may have noticed that many establishments that provide cold cups for water, soda and other drinks have generally switched to paper-based cold cups. Of course, this is something to be applauded but we think we can all do better because paper isn’t always the best solution.   » Read More

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Biomass Packaging Debuts Eco-Friendly Cold Cup

05/16/2012

Vending Times
BioMass Packaging is offering a new line of fully compostable paper cold cups made from renewably sourced paper fibers. Ecotainer cold cups use a plant-based lining to provide leak-proof performance, instead of petroleum-based polyethylene typically used to line paper cups. They're available in 12-, 16-, 22- and 32-fl.oz. sizes in a leaf-motif stock print design; custom printing is also available. Biomass Packaging also offers lids and straws made from the same plant-based material.  » Read More

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BioMass Packaging Adds New Can Liners to Foodservice Solutions

04/12/2012

Food & Beverage Asia
BioMass Packaging, a division of Excellent Packaging, has added a line of compostable can liners to its range of foodservice solutions. The new EcoSafe bags and can liners are made from compostable plastic and can be used to line any waste receptacle up to 96 gallons, eliminating odors. According to BioMass, the liners offer good strength puncture resistance, can hold up to 50lbs, and perform well with hot foods, including boiling-hot liquids. The liners do not break down prematurely and retain their strength and integrity until they reach a compost facility, the company said. The EcoSafe range is available in a wide range of sizes for foodservice applications. The company said that the can liners are ideal for collection of pre and post-consumer food waste and come with a star-seal bottom that eliminates leaks and breaks. The liners are compatible with municipal curbside yard waste collection programmes and degrade 10-45 days in commercial compost facilities. The compostable-certified bags can be used by restaurants, hotels, universities, and other businesses and institutions to dispose of their food and organic waste, safely diverting it from landfills.   » Read More

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Expert Q&A: Green Packaging

04/ 2/2012

Independent Restaurateur
We talked to Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging & Supply and BioMass Packaging, for a quick run-down of need-to-know info on the path to sustainability. Allen’s company carries a growing selection of products made from renewable, plant-based resources.  » Read More

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BioMass Packaging Introduces ASTM D-6400 Certified Compostable Can Liners

04/ 2/2012

AzO Cleantech
These liners possess high-strength and are suitable for use in cafeterias, hotels, restaurants, homes and other businesses that want to dispose their organic and food waste to compost. The new EcoSafe bags and can liners are BPI and ASTM D-6400 certified, which designates that the plastics can be composted in industrial and municipal aerobic composting facilities. Municipal compost programs in many places have made it mandatory to carry green waste in biodegradable bags.   » Read More

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BioMass Packaging adds new can liners to foodservice solutions

04/ 2/2012

Packaging Gateway
BioMass Packaging, a division of Excellent Packaging, has added a line of compostable can liners to its range of foodservice solutions. The new EcoSafe bags and can liners are made from compostable plastic and can be used to line any waste receptacle up to 96 gallons, eliminating odours. According to BioMass, the liners offer good strength puncture resistance, can hold up to 50lbs, and perform well with hot foods, including boiling-hot liquids. The liners do not break down prematurely and retain their strength and integrity until they reach a compost facility, the company said. The EcoSafe range is available in a wide range of sizes for foodservice applications. The company said that the can liners are ideal for collection of pre and post-consumer food waste and come with a star-seal bottom that eliminates leaks and breaks. The liners are compatible with municipal curbside yard waste collection programmes and degrade 10-45 days in commercial compost facilities. The compostable-certified bags can be used by restaurants, hotels, universities, and other businesses and institutions to dispose of their food and organic waste, safely diverting it from landfills.   » Read More

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New Can Liners From Biomass Packaging Help Foodservice Operators Divert Food And Organic Waste To Compost

03/30/2012

Packaging Network
BioMass Packaging's can be liners used to line any waste receptacle up to 96 gallons, eliminating odors and the need to clean the receptacle every day. They offer high strength and superior puncture resistance, are guaranteed to hold up to 50 lbs, and perform well with hot foods, including boiling-hot liquids. Most importantly, they do not break down prematurely and retain their strength and integrity until they reach a compost facility. Convenience features include sufficient elasticity to ensure they fit snugly around the top of the bin without splitting or slipping into it, and a unique star-seal bottom that eliminates leaks and breaks.   » Read More

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BioMass Packaging unveils new can liners

03/30/2012

Packaging Business Review
BioMass Packaging, a division of Excellent Packaging has announced the addition of compostable can liners to its line of compostable foodservice solutions. The new EcoSafe bags and can liners are made from compostable plastic and can be used to line any waste receptacle up to 96 gallons, eliminating odors. According to BioMass, the liners offer good strength, puncture resistance and are guaranteed to hold up to 50lbs. They perform well with hot foods, including boiling-hot liquids and do not break down prematurely. The elastic nature of EcoSafe liners ensures they fit well round the top of the bin without splitting or slipping into it. A star-seal bottom of the liners eliminates leaks and breaks. Available in a wide range of sizes for a wide variety of foodservice applications, the can liners are ideal for collection of pre and post-consumer food waste. The liners are compatible with municipal curbside yard waste collection programme and degrade in ten to 45 days in commercial compost facilities. The certified-compostable bags can be used by restaurants, hotels, universities, and other businesses and institutions to dispose of their food and organic waste, safely diverting it from landfills.   » Read More

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New 100%-recycled, FSC-certified shopping bags

03/29/2012

Greener Package
Excellent Packaging & Supply, in partnership with TULSACK, offers 100%-recycled paper shopping bags with twisted-paper handles, available in natural Kraft color, or printed with a custom logo or branding message. Designed for retailers that want to project a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the natural Kraft (natural brown) bags are made from 100%-recycled paper with a 95% post-consumer recycled paper content. Logo-printed bags can be supplied on either plain Kraft or on the innovative Tulsakraft® Versa bag, which is made from 100%-recycled paper with an 86% post-consumer recycled paper content. Custom artwork can be printed in up to three ink colors. Low minimums for first-time orders. Extremely fast turnaround on all custom orders. The Tulsakraft Versa bag uses a paper that is white on one side and Kraft on the other. Either side can be on the outside, and is the bag suitable for custom printing.  » Read More

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Company launches sustainable grab-and-go packaging

03/ 6/2012

Plastics Today
BioMass Packaging has launched a new line of packaging that helps consumers grab sustainability on the go. BioMass Packaging, which is a division of Excellent Packaging, has added modular, single-serve food containers to its line of compostable foodservice solutions. Made entirely from NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, a PLA-based material, the compostable Greenware line consists of a basic cup, an insert with a secure lid, and either a flat or domed lid that snaps on tight. Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging, told PlasticsToday while the cup and insert combination has been around for a while, this is the first cup with an insert made from plant-derived plastic  » Read More

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Company creates compostable grab-and-go cups

03/ 2/2012

SmartPlanet
OK, I’ll admit it, I’m really lazy sometimes, which means not only do I grab coffee out way too many times every week, I also grab food items like yogurt parfait thing-a-ma-jig pictured above. I’ve actually been wondering about the design for some time, and now I hear that BioMass Packaging has created a compostable version The packaging is made from NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, which is material made of polylactic acid. The line is called Greenware, and it is meant to help package food items that don’t keep very well when they thrown together. Like salad stored with salad dressing on top or granola thrown into yogurt, which gets mushy and yucky when it sits too long.  » Read More

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BioMass Packaging launches compostable cup range

03/ 1/2012

Environmental Leader
BioMass Packaging has added modular, single-serve cups and lids to its line of compostable food service products. Greenware cups (pictured) and lids are made entirely from NatureWorks Ingeo biopolymer, a polylactic acid-based material. The range consists of a basic cup, an insert with a secure lid, and either a flat or domed lid that snaps on tight. Cups and inserts are sold in cases of 1,000 units and are available for immediate delivery.   » Read More

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Biomass Packaging adds modular, single-serve food packaging made from Ingeo

03/ 1/2012

Perishable News
Fresh and nutritious snack foods and small meals are increasingly popular with busy, on-the-go consumers, who expect to find appealing grab-and-go foods in their favorite coffee shop, convenience store, supermarket or hotel snack shop. Snacks and meals such as parfait+granola+fruit combos, fruit+yogurt, chips+salsa, and salad+croutons+dressing, are now easy to package and present with BioMass Packaging’s modular system, which consists of a basic cup, an insert with a secure lid, and either a flat or domed lid that snaps on tight.   » Read More

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Excellent Packaging harvests green foodservice solutions

12/13/2011

Packaging Digest
Excellent Packaging & Supply, an innovator and wholesale distributor of sustainable, biodegradable, and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has signed an agreement to provide a complete range of compostable and biodegradable foodservice and to-go supplies for il Buco Alimentari & Vineria, the new marketplace that recently opened at 53 Great Jones Street in the Noho neighborhood in Manhattan. The marketplace is Il Buco's second location and features a market and wine bar/restaurant that complements the flagship restaurant that has long been popular for its rustic Italian dishes.   » Read More

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Moses and meat packaging

11/19/2011

Meat Trade Daily News
The containers are designed to compost in either residential or municipal composting facilities within 30 days to 90 days. They are primarily made of bulrush, although they also contain bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat or rice straw. The company makes a point of noting that these are plants that are not typically used in food production, so their use as packaging should not compete with food production. All of the plants are renewable on an annual basis, so there is an abundant supply of them over time.   » Read More

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New 100%-recycled, FSC-certified shopping bags

11/11/2011

Packaging World
Designed for retailers that want to project a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, the natural Kraft (natural brown) color bags are made from 100% recycled paper with a 95% post-consumer recycled paper content. Logo-printed bags can be supplied on either plain Kraft color paper or the innovative Tulsakraft® Versa bag, which is made from 100% recycled paper with an 86% post-consumer recycled paper content. Custom artwork can be printed in up to three ink colors. Low minimums for first-time orders. Extremely fast turnaround on all custom orders. The Tulsakraft Versa bag uses a paper that is white on one side and Kraft on the other. Either side can be on the outside, and is suitable for custom printing.  » Read More

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Richmond packaging company confronts Styrofoam head-on

11/ 7/2011

Richmond Confidential
Why does polystyrene thrive? Simply put, it works really well. It’s light, sturdy and doesn’t wilt or soften despite housing perspiring meats for days. The food industry simply doesn’t have a cost-effective, eco-friendly answer to the plastic that Dow Chemical introduced to Americans in the early 1940s. In 2007, Richmond business owner Allen King thought he had the answer. After nearly 25 years of working in conventional retail and industrial packaging, King saw the tremendous potential for green food service alternatives. He decided to strike out on his own in 2004, creating Excellent Packaging and Supply, partnering with numerous manufacturing companies to bring sustainable food service products to the marketplace. King has dubbed this dedicated line of fully compostable products BioMass packaging.   » Read More

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Excellent Packaging & Supply debuts foodservice containers made from bulrush

11/ 4/2011

Food Ingredients First
Excellent Packaging & Supply, an innovator and wholesale distributor of sustainable, biodegradable, and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has added a new line of food display and presentation containers made from bulrush and other plant fibers to its line of compostable foodservice packaging products for supermarkets and grocery stores.   » Read More

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Foodservice containers made from bulrush debut

10/28/2011

Meat & Poultry
The new trays look good and are sturdy and durable — with performance better than Styrofoam, the company claims. The new foodservice trays and containers are freezer-, microwave-, and oven-safe, making them some of the most durable plant-fiber products on the market. A key attribute of these trays and containers is that they are sturdy and can contain water, liquid and hot foods without compromising product performance. Until now, alternatives to polystyrene have generally not held up well with such foods, said Gena Allen, catering director at Sunshine Foods in Saint Helena, Calif. “At last, we can use an all-natural product that works well and even looks good,” she added. “We’ve been trying to move away from Styrofoam for years but everything we tried couldn’t hold up when in contact with moist meats and poultry. With these new trays, we can package pretty much anything and feel confident that it will present well and stay fresh. And, because they don’t insulate, we can use them for seafood and not worry about the food spoiling even though it’s on ice.   » Read More

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California company offers sustainable packaging for meat, fish

10/27/2011

SmartPlanet
It may be an obscure biblical reference, but I have to admit that the first thing I thought of when I read the latest green packaging pitch from Excellent Packaging & Supply was this, “Moses.” That’s because the Richmond, Calif., company’s latest product line includes food display and containers that are made out of bulrushes. Yes, those tall, sturdy reeds that usually grow in wetlands or marshy areas and that figure prominently in the Moses story. The new trays and containers were designed to replace the polystyrene containers that are usually used to wrap up meat, poultry and seafood. They are manufactured by Be Green Packaging. (Excellent Packaging & Supply is the distributor.) The containers are designed to compost in either residential or municipal composting facilities within 30 days to 90 days. They are primarily made of bulrush, although they also contain bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat or rice straw. The company makes a point of noting that these are plants that are not typically used in food production, so their use as packaging should not compete with food production. All of the plants are renewable on an annual basis, so there is an abundant supply of them over time. The containers can stand up to freezers, microwaves and ovens. And they can also handle the rather wet packaging situations that are usually associated with meats and fish. (The reason that you sometimes have to use paper AND plastic at the supermarket when taking your groceries home.)   » Read More

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Excellent Packaging debuts foodservice containers made from bulrush

10/26/2011

3BL Media - People, Planet, Profit
Designed to replace the polystyrene containers that are typically used in the meat, poultry and seafood departments, the new line includes trays, containers and portion cups made from plant fibers that will compost in 30-90 days in both home and municipal composting environments — significantly reducing landfill waste. The new line is manufactured by Be Green Packaging, a company that maintains the highest level of eco-certification in the industry.  » Read More

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Excellent Packaging & Supply debuts foodservice containers made from bulrush

10/26/2011

BeGreen Packaging
“Ask any environmentally conscious grocer what they think of polystyrene and they’ll say they can’t stand the stuff, but that it’s a necessary evil because the alternatives just don’t hold up to real use behind the meat, poultry and seafood counters,” said Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging & Supply. “Our new line of supermarket food and meat trays proves that there is now a viable alternative that’s not made from corn, trees or plastic, and that offers the required durability and sturdiness — even when used with fresh, moist food.”  » Read More

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BioMass Packaging unveils backyard compostable bag

10/13/2011

Produce Retailer
The Mater-Bi produce bags are the latest in the company’s environmentally friendly line of bags. “We focus only on bio-plastics that are compostable and most of them are made from various ag products,” King said. The BioMass Packaging line also includes a clear, resealable PLA-based bag and a yet another clear bag for retail presentations such as dried nuts, fruits and trail mix, he said. The presentation bag is made from cellulose. A hurdle that BioMass Packaging seeks to overcome with the new produce bags is cost: about triple the price of the PLA products, King said. He’s optimistic, however. “Innovators in the (food) industry are a niche market, but they are everywhere in every state in the country,” he said. “Over time, I believe we’re going to continue to see the share of green, sustainable packaging grow. It’s not going to stop.”   » Read More

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For Smart And Chic Retailers, Recycled = Premium

10/12/2011

Green Packaging Group
Have you noticed those stylish shopping bags that up-market department stores lavish on their customers? They’re a far cry from the plastic bags offered by the big-box retailers, and they are clearly not an inexpensive line item in the operating budget of a Nordstrom or Macys. Shoppers at these retailer locations have come to expect quality shopping bags as part of the shopping experience. In fact, some retailers’ shopping bags are so nice that shoppers use them for other purposes, long after the actual day of purchase. In effect, the bags are a mobile billboard that keep delivering impressions for weeks and even months.  » Read More

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BioMass Packaging unveils backyard compostable bags

10/12/2011

The Packer
BioMass Packaging, a division of Richmond, Calif.-based Excellent Packaging & Supply, has developed a backyard compostable, nearly clear bag for retail produce sections. “The bags are a new version of Mater-Bi bioplastics,” said Allen King, founder and president of BioMass Packaging. “They are not crystal clear, but more clear than the opaque bags commonly in use.” The Mater-Bi bags are the latest in the company’s line of bioplastic bags, he said. Unlike opaque produce bags, which are made of a thermoplastic polyester derived from renewable resources such as corn and tapioca and are biodegradable only under certain conditions, the Mater-Bi bags permit check stand scanning through the bags and are backyard compostable, King said. The new produce bags also use 50 percent fewer raw materials and less energy to produce and ship than do standard bags.   » Read More

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Excellent Packaging expands retail packaging product portfolio

09/26/2011

Azom - The A to Z of Materials
Excellent Packaging & Supply has expanded its environmentally-friendly retail packaging product portfolio with the addition of new shopping bags made from 100% recycled paper. The Tulsakraft Versa bags are offered in natural Kraft color or printed with a branding message or custom logo. The bags have received certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. Tulsakraft Versa bags are a suitable green substitute for plastic bags and are ideal for custom printing.  » Read More

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Flash sales and shopping apps may help holiday sales

09/23/2011

BizReport
Meanwhile, a new green initiative from Excellent Packaging offers retailers FSC certified bags on which they can advertise. With plastic bags outlawed in many US cities, and even more considering the measure, offering consumer sustainable bags to replace them makes sense; advertising on those bags help pair a brand with green marketing efforts. Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging & Supply said, "Consumers quickly recognize that the Versa bag is no ordinary paper shopping bags, and this adds a powerful element of differentiation to the brand printed on the bag. Retailers can also take advantage of our custom print shopping bag service and feel confident that they are offering their shoppers a truly green and sustainable solution."  » Read More

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Excellent Packaging introduces eco-friendly shopping bags

09/23/2011

Packaging Business Review
Excellent Packaging & Supply, a provider of nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications, has added 100% recycled paper shopping bags with twisted-paper handles to its range of planet-friendly retail packaging products. The natural Kraft color bags are made from 100% recycled paper with a 95% post-consumer recycled paper content and feature a custom logo or branding message. Logo-printed bags, on the other hand can be supplied on either plain Kraft color paper or the Tulsakraft Versa bag, which is also made from 100% recycled paper with an 86% post-consumer recycled paper content. Custom artwork can be printed in up to three ink colors, the company said. Excellent Packaging & Supply president Allen King said that discerning shoppers appreciate retailers that provide shopping bags that are both aesthetically appealing and environmentally smart.   » Read More

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Rustic eatery opens in Bethlehem - an BioMass Packaging customer profile

09/17/2011

The Morning Call
Horns, a fast and casual eatery that subscribes to the sustainable-food concept, has replaced the former Dollar Days store at 123 W. Fourth St. Horns is owned by John and Sarah Silvestera, an Easton-area couple who say the eatery brings something the Lehigh Valley hasn't seen before. John Silvestera, who gained food service muscle working at some restaurants in New York City, created a rustic interior for Horns. The restaurant also features some interesting dishes courtesy of local farmers, including grain-feed and nitrate-free meats from producers in Lancaster County, fruits from Scholl Orchards in Bethlehem, and eggs from Gottschell Farm nearLimeport. Horns offers a slew of earth-friendly details, including takeout materials made from biomass packaging.   » Read More

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Progressive Grocer

09/15/2011

Fresh Priorities, by James Dudlicek
Sustainability continues to grow in importance, while "active" solutions come on strong, among musts for fresh food packaging. Richmond, Calif.-based Excellent Packaging & Supply offers Ingeo biopolymer-lined clamshell containers in its line of BagasseWare foodservice products, made from a byproduct of sugar production. These new products, applicable for use in the supermarket deli and prepared food department, address the problem of bio-based containers to soften and lose their structural integrity when serving hot and moist food. BagasseWare containers are lined with a thin sheet of NatureWorks Ingeo plant-based biopolymer, which prevents moisture and grease from reaching the bagasse-based shell, and ensures it retains its original shape and rigidity. "We think it's important that consumers should not need to choose between a non-sustainable container and an environmentally friendly one that cannot properly contain hot food," says Allen King, president of Excellent Packaging & Supply.   » Read More

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Packaging World

09/14/2011

Compostable produce bags from Excellent Packaging
Made from GMO-free cornstarch, Excellent Packaging & Supply’s sturdy, translucent produce bags with a wide opening are convenient for customers and can be branded to reinforce a store’s commitment to eliminating the environmental impact of polyethylene bags. Bags offer good clarity of their contents, making them more convenient for shoppers and checkout clerks. Said to use 50% fewer raw materials and less energy to produce and ship than standard bags. Both backyard- and commercially compostable. The 15-in. x 20-in. size bags are designed for single-hand/single-bag dispensing.   » Read More

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Green lodging news

09/ 1/2011

Excellent Packaging Adds Biopolymer-lined Clamshell Containers.
Excellent Packaging & Supply, a wholesale distributor of sustainable, biodegradable, and nature-based packaging for foodservice and other applications...   » Read More

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Green Packaging Group

08/31/2011

Innovative grocers are adding extra green to the produce aisle.
The produce department of any supermarket is one of those places where one cannot help but feel in touch with planet Earth. You might be just paces from...   » Read More

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Global Coffee Review

08/16/2011

Green in the Word: A look at the move towards compostable packaging
How compostable material is changing the face of the coffee industry. In 200 years' time, it is likely that the foam, polystyrene or paper cup...   » Read More

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Packaging-Gateway

08/11/2011

Excellent Packaging Unveils Green Bags
US-based distributor of green packaging Excellent Packaging & Supply has introduced two new lines of 100% bio-based clear food-packaging bags...   » Read More