We often get asked if our Econic packaging has been certified as home compostable. The answer is a yes for our EcoClear packs and all the compostable films we use to make Econic – and ‘we are actively working on it’ for the completed Econic bags. So why the difference? Basically, it’s because we specialise in customising Econic packaging to suit each individual user and the product being packed – and that can cause variations in things like ink coverage. Therefore, each completed pack variant needs to go through a certification process to be marketed as `certified’ and we are committed to this process.
What most people don’t realise is that the bio-degradation testing required for home compostable certification only became available in New Zealand early last year, at a cost of around $35,000 per item plus a 12-month lead time. Despite these hurdles, we started the certification process for our standard Econic packs 15 months ago and are now working though the many curveballs created by covid that delayed the process and escalated the already substantial costs. BUT we are still committed to the process and so are several of our Econic customers, who are also patiently navigating this certification process for their own branded packs. In the meantime, we can assure you that every Econic pack we make has been thoroughly tested to ensure it will break down in a typical home compost environment. ... See more