Kiwi-owned company Ceres Organics is addressing the issue of mounting landfill, with a revolutionary, world-first, home compostable transparent pack for its certified organic, EcoSocial white quinoa.
With New Zealanders producing about 15.5 million tonnes of waste per year, compostable packaging is a sustainable solution that aligns with Ceres Organics' mission to be both ecologically and socially responsible. So, for the last couple of years the company has been hard at work developing what is a step towards reducing the world's consumption of single use plastics.
Designed to help reduce the amount of waste going to landfill, the 'Econic Clear' compostable pouch is made from renewable resources, such as wood pulp and wood based inks.
The combination of heat, water, oxygen, soil and micro-organisms in a typical home compost bin or worm farm provide the ideal conditions for decomposition, and in just six weeks the packs begin to break down. In 16 weeks, only small fragments remain.
Ceres Organics Managing Director, Noel Josephson, says the new packaging reflects the company's longstanding commitment to sustainability, people and the planet.
"We believe in promoting sustainability of the earth and the people on it; this new home-compostable pouch is an exciting step towards reducing the amount of plastic being sent to landfill.
"Ceres Organics was the first brand to offer quinoa in New Zealand, over 15 years ago. And we've worked hard to ensure it remains the best and most ethically sourced quinoa Kiwis can get in 2017 and beyond. The high-moisture, oxygen and sealing barriers provided by the Econic wrap have allowed us to maintain our stringent quality control requirements, while staying true to our brand values."
Quinoa was an important food for the Incan Empire back in the day, and its unique nutrition profile has led to its modern-day 'superfood' status. It's packed with nourishing plant-based goodness, including quality protein and dietary fibre.
Ceres Organics work with a collective of traditional Peruvian farmers, who grow quinoa the same way their ancient ancestors did: small plots, up high, by hand – the organic way.
This means Ceres Organics quinoa is grown without the use of harmful synthetic pesticides or chemicals, as indicated by the BioGro certification logo on the front of the packet. It's also EcoSocial certified - a fair trade certification that promotes ethical trade by integrating organic, economic, social and environmental criteria into a single verification programme.
Noel says these certifications are a guarantee of Ceres Organics ethical business practices. "We're very proud to hold these certifications, which mean we can confidently offer the best product to our consumers, while also being fair to our farmers and of course, the environment.
"It's worth the journey to bring quinoa to you from its most authentic source. You get the best quality quinoa available from where it grows best, it keeps the link to its ancient heritage alive, and you are helping to improve the living standard of many Peruvian families."
Find out more about the Ceres Organics brand on its website. One of the trends in our most recent quarterly trends report was covering the topic of 'going green' - in fitting with Ceres Organics' new compostable packaging. You can read the full trends report here. Not yet a subscriber? Get in touch today.