Futamura UK and Biopap are reinforcing a 25-year partnership to accelerate development of compostable packaging for the food service sector, combining regenerated cellulose film with compostable food trays.
The collaboration integrates Futamura’s NatureFlex film with Biopap’s cartonboard trays to create what the companies describe as “functional compostable packaging, derived from renewable raw materials with the most practical end-of-life”. The packaging is designed for professional catering applications, including cooking, storage, reheating and consumption, and operates across a temperature range of -90°C to +175°C.
Biopap’s approach considers the full lifecycle of packaging, from sourcing renewable materials from sustainably managed forests through to end-of-life processing. Its trays are intended for direct consumption, where food residue contamination is expected, requiring compostable materials or compatibility with anaerobic digestion. Packaging using NatureFlex can also be recycled in the paper waste stream.
NatureFlex films, produced from wood pulp sourced from responsibly managed plantations, are used to line the trays and provide barrier properties against oxygen, gases, oils and grease. The films are approved for direct food contact in the EU and US and meet industrial composting standards including EN13432, ASTM D6400 and AS4736. They are also certified for home composting under OK Compost Home, Din Certco and the Australian AS5810 standard. Futamura said testing under ISO15985:2004 showed the material to be completely biodegradable under high solids anaerobic digestion conditions.
Biopap said its Genius Meal Trays enable food waste and packaging to be processed together to produce compost and biogas. A cradle-to-grave lifecycle assessment found the trays can reduce carbon footprint by 66 per cent compared to conventional polypropylene trays. The company also points to what it describes as “biological circularity”, returning nutrients from food waste to soil, supporting biodiversity, improving water retention and reducing reliance on fossil-based fertilisers.
Biopap received the Sustainable Development Award 2025 at the Ecomondo exhibition, which the company said recognises its work in supporting the circular economy through long-term innovation.
The development coincides with Biopap’s 25th anniversary, marking a long-standing relationship between the Italian packaging manufacturer and Futamura, built on what the companies describe as shared values, continuity in teams and a mutual focus on ongoing development in compostable materials.
Giorgio Berton, sales manager at Futamura, said, “I'm very happy to collaborate with Biopap, a serious and reliable company that has believed and invested in sustainability for years. Over the years, they have developed various sustainable solutions, and Genius is a truly brilliant, practical, and high-performance idea.”
Dr Eng. Michelangelo Anderlini, co-founder at Biopap, said, “Our collaboration with Futamura has always been rooted in shared values, trust, and a passion for innovation. From the beginning, we sought partners who believed in renewable materials and compostability. Together, we have created tailored solutions that have led to multiple patented innovations and continue to push the boundaries of sustainable packaging.”
