As part of its Green Packaging Initiative launched in 2011, organic food supplier Ja! Natürlich took a further step to avoid plastics recently by introducing a range of 100% biodegradable fruit and vegetable nets made from Lenzing Modal fibre. Accordingly, onions, potatoes and beetroots are now being packaged in the ‘green’ nets.

100% Lenzing Modal Color is used for the production of the raschel knitted nets, which were developed in a joint project involving the Packaging Center Graz, Lenzing and spinning company Borckenstein, a long-standing Lenzing partner.

The Modal Color nets are said to keep the vegetables fresh even longer thanks to their moisture-regulating and breathable properties and in addition, they can be conveniently disposed of in the home compost because the nets are biodegradable. The fine nets which are said to be soft to the touch and able to protect the contents more effectively than previously used plastic nets.

“The time is ripe for ecological innovations such as this one. For Lenzing this project means entering a completely new market, from which we expect a lot in the future,” says Friedrich Weninger, COO of Lenzing AG with responsibility for research and development.

“Lenzing and Borckenstein have been trusted partners for decades, cooperating at a high technical level,” Manfred Kern, Managing Director of Borckenstein adds. “This was a decisive reason for the incredible speed with which this idea could be implemented.”

According to Lenzing, Modal Color is produced from European beech wood and is therefore 100% natural with more than one-third of the wood being derived from Austrian forests. Pulp and fibre production are carried out in line with the principle of sustainability - Lenzing manufactures the pulp it uses itself, and therefore exerts control over the entire production process, which it says is considered to be a worldwide best practice.

“We are proud that Lenzing fibres can make such an important contribution to a better life,”comments Peter Untersperger, Chief Executive Officer of the Lenzing Group. “Lenzing fibres have become a small but often indispensable part of our modern industrial society. We are doing everything we can to produce these consumer goods with the least possible environmental impact. This Austrian innovation in the field of food packaging is clearly a step in the right direction,” Untersperger adds.

“I am very happy that we have taken a further step forward in green packaging. In the light of the fact that plastics have dominated the field of packaging materials over the last 40 years, we are now offering a sustainable alternative based on the use of natural materials,” says Martina Hörmer, Managing Director of Ja! Natürlich.

www.lenzing.com