CRYOVAC® Compostable Overwrap Tray

Our compostable tray is made from a renewable cellulose-based biopolymer and 45% recycled content. To form the materials that make up the compostable tray, mixed materials are diverted from landfills and broken down into molecules to form acetic acid (vinegar), which is combined with responsibly sourced wood pulp (cellulose) to create a resin pellet that is used to form the tray.

No. While testing has determined that our compostable trays will not contaminate the recycling stream, if sent to a materials recovery facility (MRF) these trays will likely be removed like any other non-recyclable material. Current MRF technology can not differentiate between these trays or other non-recyclable materials, so we will not categorize these trays as recyclable.

Not necessarily. While both biodegradability and compostability involve the breakdown of materials, compostability is a more specific and controlled process that leads to the creation of compost, which is beneficial for soil. Biodegradability is a broader term that encompasses the natural breakdown of materials in environments that may be unmanaged.

Composting addresses one of the long-standing end-of-life challenges in meat packaging: complexity at the consumer level.

When recycling, trays used for packaging fresh proteins must be cleaned after use and free of food contamination before being recycled. This can create challenges for foam or plastics but especially so for fiber-based alternatives due to the high level of grease and moisture contamination that is unavoidable when packaging meat.

Food residuals from CRYOVAC^® compostable trays and the tray itself create a food source for microbial activity that is naturally broken down to deliver beneficial nutrients back into the soil. That means our compostable trays can be disposed of along with organic waste, bypassing the need for cleaning and separating, and thereby simplifying the process for consumers.

Historically, EPS has been a mainstay in the packaging industry. However, growing environmental concerns and tightening regulations are shifting the market away from EPS towards alternatives such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). While PET is technically recyclable, the lack of proper recycling infrastructure in many regions means a significant portion of it still ends up in landfills.

CRYOVAC^® compostable trays were designed to directly replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays to offer more sustainable packaging to meat processors and retailers. And, with their drop-in compatibility with existing equipment, you can make the change with virtually no production disruption or capital outlay.