Innovia Films’ biodegradable packaging material NatureFlex^TM is being used by the American company, Askinosie Chocolate, as the inner wrap for its range of small-batch produced premium chocolate.

Based in Springfield, Missouri, Askinosie Chocolate was founded by lawyer turned chocolate maker, Shawn Askinosie in 2005. Shawn has demonstrated real passion, commitment and enthusiasm for producing premium quality chocolate from authentic, traceable, single origin cocoa beans. This product not only tastes delicious, but is good for the environment and the farmers supplying the ingredients. Askinosie Chocolate pays the farmers above Fair Trade prices and profit shares with them.

Outlining why Askinosie Chocolate opted for NatureFlex^TM, Shawn said, "We chose NatureFlex^TM to use as a part of the packaging for our chocolate bars because it's a non GM, wood based product that is home compostable. Our company has implemented vertical sustainability throughout our business practices with everything from the way we source our cocoa beans and our profit sharing program with our farmers, to the products we produce and sell. Our use of NatureFlex^TM is just another important example of our concern for the environment."

The Revere Group, based in Seattle, was the converter of Innovia Films’ NatureFlex^TM. The 85g and 1kg chocolate bars are wrapped in transparent NatureFlex^TM 120 NVS. NatureFlex^TM NVS is a high gloss film with enhanced transparency that has inherent anti-static properties, and is semi permeable to moisture providing good anti-mist properties. NatureFlex NVS also offers a good barrier to gases and aromas. In addition, the film’s enhanced printability and controlled slip properties ensure easier conversion. A new 7g chocolate bar has recently been added to the Askinosie Chocolate range, which is also to be packaged in NatureFlex^TM film.

All NatureFlex^TM films are cellulose based, derived from renewable wood pulp and are certified to meet both the European EN13432 and American ASTM D6400 standards for compostable packaging. The wood-pulp is sourced from managed plantations from referenced suppliers operating Good Forestry principals (FSC or equivalent). NatureFlex^TM films typically have a renewable biobased content of some 95% by weight of material.

“NatureFlex^TM is a highly versatile packaging film”, says Malcolm Cohn, Innovia Films’ Market Manager, Americas “It is not only biodegradable and compostable for those packer processors keen to use sustainable packaging, but also offers a technical performance second to none. We are pleased to have assisted Askinosie Chocolate in gaining a competitive advantage by aligning their packaging message with the ethos of their product marketing and providing caring consumers with a biodegradable, naturally-based sustainable packaging material.”

Innovia Films is exhibiting at All Things Organic in Chicago, April 27-29 on Stand 3975 in Hall A and also at Bioplastics in Packaging - Interpack 2008 at Düsseldorf Messe, Hall 7a, Stand E15 from April 24-30.