On July 1, an ordinance that includes retailer meat trays, in addition to previously banned polystyrene foodservice packaging, went into effect for the City of Seattle. The ordinance requires all single-use foodservice packaging at quick-serve restaurants and grocery stores to be either compostable or recyclable. This poses a challenge at retail by banning the use of expanded polystyrene trays in the meat case.
A compostable tray option available to retailers is the Cryovac NatureTRAY, which has been offered by retailers in the Seattle market since April 2009 and is currently available in brown to indicate to Seattle consumers that it is compostable. The NatureTRAY was the first foam tray in the U.S. created with NatureWorks PLA (polylactic acid) polymers and was introduced to the market in 2007. It is made entirely from annually renewable plant materials and can be used for in-store packaging of beef, pork, poultry and fish, as well as produce and dry goods.
The NatureTRAY is suitable for cold or room temperature deli applications. The tray is not suitable for above room temperature usage (like soups or hot foods) because the product will distort its shape at temperatures above 120° F.
The sustainable Cryovac NatureTRAY can be used on any standard automated in-store wrapping equipment in supermarkets.
The NatureTRAY delivers all the benefits of traditional polystyrene foam trays, but is compostable in any industrial compost facility. It is available in a range of sizes and in an all-natural un-pigmented white color.
Source: Sealed Air Cryovac