Canadian candy company Ganong Bros chooses Innovia Films' renewable, compostable cellulose-based NatureFlex to package its Easter confectionery in stand-up pouches

Lorena Madrigal

CUMBRIA, United Kingdom , February 20, 2012 (press release) – Innovia Films’ renewable, compostable cellulose-based material, NatureFlex™, won Ganong Bros Limited’s approval, to pack its range of Easter confectionery in stand up pouches.

Ganong is Canada’s oldest candy company, founded in 1873 and remains family owned and operated. Its headquarters and manufacturing facility is in New Brunswick.

Bruce Rafuse, Vice President of Marketing at Ganong explained “We had two primary objectives in selecting the package: first and foremost was to improve sales and distribution and second to differentiate us from the competition. We considered several alternatives, but based upon feedback from consumers and retailers decided upon NatureFlex™ due to it being compostable and the distinct competitive advantage this gives us. Our ultimate goal is to move all our products into compostable pouches.”

The stand up pouch pack is converted by Canadian based - Genpak - using compostable NatureFlex™ NKR laminated to a biopolymer sealant layer. “NatureFlex™ provides excellent barriers to oxygen and moisture, which ensure the product maintains its quality. The film also printed and performed well on our machines,” said Bill Reilly, Development Manager, Genpak.

NatureFlex™ films are certified to meet the American ASTM D6400, European EN13432 and Australian AS4736 standards for compostable packaging. The wood-pulp is sourced from managed plantations from referenced suppliers operating Good Forestry principals (FSC or equivalent). The renewable biobased content of NatureFlex™ films is typically 95% by weight of material according to ASTM D6866. NatureFlex™ has been confirmed as suitable for emerging 'waste to energy' techniques such as anaerobic digestion, aiding the diversion of organic wastes from landfill.

The range of Ganong’s Easter confectionery which is packed in the NatureFlex™ stand up pouches includes: Chocolate Covered Cherry Eggs, Easter Eggs, Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs and Easter Animal Jellies. These products will be available nationally in Canada in the run up to Easter.

The pack design has already the caught the eye of the industry and won a PAC (The Packaging Association) Silver Award for ‘Branded Package Made in Canada’.

NatureFlex™ was an obvious solution for use in this application as the film begins life as a natural product – wood - and breaks down at the end of its lifecycle in a home compost bin (or industrial compost environment) within a matter of weeks.

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