A first in 100 per cent compostable punnets

Denny supplies roughly half the nation’s mushrooms. This pioneering move is a massive boost for sustainable practices aimed at protecting the planet and promoting healthy living.

The compostable punnets are made from Bagasse - a natural by-product of sugarcane refinement. The pulp fibre, which remains after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juice requires minimal processing and elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching to turn it into a woven, high-strength paper that is biodegradable and compostable.

‘Given the global drive towards eco-friendly and sustainable packaging solutions, more research and development resources are being channelled in this direction. We believe it is a solution for the future enthuses Derek Couzens (CEO) of Multi-cup Solutions. ‘If South Africa follows European trends, nearly 50 per cent of fruit and vegetable food produced goes to waste. The rigid nature of the packaging certainly gives the fresh produce protection along the supply chain, together with its basic plant-based fibre composition lends itself to extended shelf life and enhancing the quality and freshness of the product.’

The compostable punnet and shrink-wrap covering, which is recyclable, results in a very sustainably packaged product. ‘We’ve opened up a South East Asia office in South Korea, which will assist in giving greater visibility and understanding of global trends, Couzens concludes. ‘This will offer Multi-cup a closer presence to progressive manufacturing facilities, pioneering some of these trends and in turn leveraging such opportunities in a local South African setting.