New food packaging that is 100 per cent biodegradable has been introduced to the Palmerston North campus in an effort to further reduce waste levels in the environment.

Catering company Spotless Services has introduced a new range of fibre-based packaging in the dining hall for lunch-meals and take-away dinners.

Produced by KiwiGreenPak, the fibre-based toxin-free product range is made from renewable plant materials and can be composted domestically or commercially, or buried in a landfill. The packages take about a month to completely decompose to a natural state, causing no harm to the environment.

Food Services director Alan Shannon, says that approximately 400 units are distributed each day with meals. “We package lunchtime meals with the KiwiGreenPak packaging, and up to a third of students choose a take-away option at dinner-time.”

Mr Shannon says the new containers are durable to100 degrees water resistant, oil resistant to temperatures of 150 degrees, and safe to microwave, refrigerate and freeze. The cost is similar to the old styrofoam containers.