We are really excited to be able to announce that our delicious organic butter now comes to you lovingly wrapped in packaging that is 100% compostable.
Why is being labelled compostable better than being labelled as biodegradable?
Our Calon Wen butter packaging, like all compostable material is biodegradable, however not all biodegradable material is compostable. Although biodegradable materials return to nature and can disappear completely they sometimes leave behind metal residue, whereas, compostable materials such as our new butter wraps create something called humus that is full of nutrients and great for plants. This is important to know because while biodegradable items refer to just any material which breaks down and decomposes in the environment, compostable goods are specifically made of organic matter which breaks down to create an end product having many beneficial uses which include fertilizing and improving soil health. Most importantly our compostable butter wraps won’t leave toxic residue behind because it’s already organic.
Good for our customers
The packaging has been independently certified as being in compliance with BS EN13432 which means we can now proudly display the compostable logo on our butter, which in turn means we can reassure all our lovely customers that we are doing our best to look after our environment.
Home Composting & Organic Gardening
The compostable logo that will now be displayed on our Calon Wen butter packaging is a visual way for consumers to identify materials that can be composted at home.
Composting at home is the cornerstone of gardening, especially organic gardening. The finished product of home composting is rich, dark, crumbly and sweet-smelling. It is made of recycled garden and kitchen waste, and can also include paper products & packaging displaying the compostable logo. The compost can be used to feed and condition the soil and in making potting mixes. According to gardenorganic.org.uk “Around 40 percent of the average dustbin contents are suitable for home composting” so it helps cut down on landfill too.
These videos explain in more depth how to make and use compost at home.
Compostable packaging cannot currently be placed in your garden or food waste collections but please check for any alternative collections locally.
The science bit….
The paper used for our Calon Wen butter wraps is made from virgin wood fibres which when exposed as a waste, decomposes naturally.
The paper contains none of the following:
- perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA),
- phthalates
- bisphenol A or B.
The inks used are also compostable and contain none of the following:
- Hydrocarbon Mineral Oils (MOAH – Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons or MOSH – Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons)
- Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDE)
- Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), CFCs, HCFCs and other ozone depleting substances
- Phthalates
- Pesticide residues
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyvinylidene chloride (PVdC) monomers
- REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
Both the paper and the inks are in compliance with the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) meaning they contain no heavy metals above the permitted levels.
