June 24, 2010 -
PRLog -- In their efforts to be the greenest tea company possible, Five Mountains has co-created 100% biodegradable and home-compostable high-barrier whole leaf tea packaging, making it the first company to do so. Launched in September of 2009, the packaging is constructed of CarbonZero-certified films sourced from renewable, non-GMO wood pulp, certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (strictly adhering to sustainable forestry management principles), and contains a renewable bio-based content of 95%.
After researching a number of biodegradable material options with sufficient moisture/flavor barriers for food packaging and that met the American ASTM D6400 standard for compostability, Five Mountains opted for wood pulp cellulose film, citing a number of advantages. Although more cost-effective bioplastic solutions were available, all suitable alternatives under consideration required commercial grade industrial composting facility standards for successful biodegradability. While Five Mountains encourages the use of municipal compost solutions, they wanted to remain realistic and specifically address what actually happens to packaging labeled as “compostable”
in normal, everyday situations. In reality, the average person will, unfortunately, rarely manage to get their packaging to these industrial facilities after consumption of its contents. (The frustrating statistic that an estimated 80% of recyclable plastic bottles end up in landfills every year comes to mind.) They wanted a package that could break down not only in industrial compost facilities, but also in simple home compost bins or in a consumer’s backyard or garden. Home-compost-
ready packaging saves energy by circumventing the collection and transporting process of compostable materials to high-temperature industrial facilities where further energy is required to break down the material. The corn-PLA bioplastic options under consideration were found to be sourced from genetically modified corn and to utilize high pesticide levels, posing potential pollution threats to water systems. The idea of using any food source for packaging in light of widespread global hunger also raised a number of moral questions for them. Due to these concerns, Five Mountains opted for renewable wood pulp metalized films that break down in a natural environment without the need for industrial facilities. The packaging can biodegrade simply by being exposed to normal natural environmental conditions, such as when it is lying outdoors, exposed to earth, air, sun and water. The graphics are digitally printed with water-based inks, allowing Five Mountains to use high-definition full color graphics, achieving a striking, environmentally responsible package that successfully preserves the freshness of its tea contents.
“As tea cannot flourish without a healthy environment, we strive to make the entire process as green as possible, from the harvesting of the tea to its final steeping. Our teas are certified 100% organic in the USA, the EU and Asia to ensure the purest tea possible. They are virgin rainforest heirloom varietals, biodiversely grown and sustainably hand-harvested from the oldest tea-producing mountains in the world. These tea trees and the rainforest we harvest them from act as a carbon sink. This, combined with the CarbonNeutral-
certified packaging, make Five Mountains tea a carbon negative product, allowing the consumer to reduce their own carbon footprint while promoting the continued protection of East Asian virgin rainforests. We’ve created Five Mountains Boro-Glass tea-ware, a line of whole leaf tea brewing devices, constructed from eco-friendly, non-toxic materials. We offer these so our customers may purchase their tea in biodegradable packaging and brew it conveniently at home or work. Brewing your own tea ensures you’re extracting the tea’s full benefits and flavors. It also means you’re avoiding the sugars, additives, waste and degraded antioxidant levels of many industrially processed alternatives. We’ve tried to offer our customers the greenest, healthiest possible solution. Our motto is ‘Drink Something Good for You…and the Earth.’”
See www.five-mountains.com for more details.
Email: contact@
five-mountains.com
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Five Mountains are San Francisco-based organic tea importers, specializing in biodiversely grown, sustainably harvested virgin rainforest heirloom tea varietals and eco-friendly original tea-ware design.
