'World first': Flora Maker Unveils Plastic-free Paper Tubs for Plant-based Spreads
Dutch food company Upfield claims new packaging - developed over several years - sets new industry standard for sustainability
09 January 2024• 3 min read
Flora-maker Upfield has today unveiled a new plastic-free, recyclable tub for its plant-based butters and spreads, hailing the packaging innovation as a "world first".
The Dutch food company is aiming to roll out the recyclable tubs across a number of European markets this year, after a trial of the packaging in Austria for its Flora product line in late 2023.
Developed by Upfield's research and development team in collaboration with materials science company Footprint, the tubs are made from compressed wet paper fibres which it claims are waterproof, oil proof, and recyclable in local paper waste streams.
Unlike many other paper packaging alternatives, Upfield's paper tubs do not have a plastic liner, meaning they can be recycled along with other paper and cardboard household waste, the firm explained.
Upfield said the packaging launch marked the beginning of its transition to paper packaging across its entire portfolio, and would help the company deliver on its goal to reduce plastic content by 80 per cent by 2030.
David Haines, group CEO for Upfield, said eliminating the need for plastic tubs through innovation had been a "moonshot" for the food company since its founding in 2018.
"As a global leader in plant-based foods, we take our responsibility to make a positive impact on the world seriously," he said. "Globally, 40 per cent of all plastic produced is for packaging that is used once and then discarded, the issue of plastic waste is one of the most critical facing our environment."
Haines said the firm was excited about the potential to launch the new tub across its most "iconic brands" in some of its "most important markets". "Consumers today demand products that benefit both people and the planet," he said. "Our plant butters and spreads do exactly that."
The tub has already received 'Conventional Plastic Free Certification' and uses paper from a PEFC-certified supplier, according to Upfield. It also expects the packaging to secure home compostability certification by 2025.
Karina Cerdeira, head of packaging for Upfield, described the launch of the paper tub as a "milestone for sustainable packaging", noting that the company had been developing the solution for several years.
"We are proud to have created, with Footprint, an innovative paper-based tub that is durable, leak-proof and appealing and which many thought would be impossible with paper," she said. "But after years of dedicated focus from joint Upfield and Footprint R&D teams and dozens of prototypes, we made the impossible, possible."
Cerdeira said Upfield would now "continue pushing boundaries through further innovation to adapt for compostability, develop new sizes and formats, and refine towards the optimal solution".
"This marks the introduction of the first oil-resistant paper tub for plant-based spreads," he said. "We are proud to collaborate with Upfield on this transformative endeavour, as it resonates with our shared objective of assisting customers in realizing their sustainability goals.