Compostable packaging for the flower trade

The UK's premier packaging solutions company, Sirane, has launched a new brand of compostable packaging for the international flower trade, entitled Flowerfresh

The new flower pouch is manufactured from the Sirane trademarked compostable packaging material called Resolve.

'We saw a clear need in the international flower business for an environmental friendly, absorbent pouch to keep cut flowers fresher for longer and with our recent skill in producing our compostable Resolve material, we realised that this was a service and a product that we were uniquely placed to create,' says Sirane director, Simon Balderson.

The Sirane Flowerfresh flower pouch is made from a plant-derived biopolymer and sustainable cellulose-based material that can be produced in any colour - green, unsurprisingly being the most popular with customers.

The function of Flowerfresh is to prolong the shelf life of fresh flowers.

The pouch is superabsorbent.

When immersed or filled with water, the water is absorbed and retained in the structure of the pouch.

It effectively provides a reservoir around the flower stems, keeping the flowers nourished and fresh.

The outer surface is microporous, preventing the escape of liquid water while allowing free flow of air around the stems.

'This prevents stagnation and inhibits fungal and mould growth,' points out Balderson, 'and the feature has already scored points with customers.

We are engaged in several trials of Flowerfresh right now,' he adds, 'and we expect to be supplying several grades of material to the international industry now that the international season has begun in earnest'.

The new Sirane Resolve material is fully compliant with the new compostable standard EN 13432 and is made using a proprietary process without adhesives or bonding materials.

Sirane, has also obtained the international DIN Certco standard - issued by the Composting Association - for its entire Drifresh Resolve Range of compostable packaging.

The Sirane Flowerfresh pouch can be composted in home or industrial compost systems and will completely disappear in about nine weeks.

'The drivers in this market are international,' Balderson points out: 'We have made several successful trips to Holland and other parts of the Continent in pursuit of this sector and expect to be spending further time abroad over the coming months'.

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