Beavertown has revealed a limited-edition crisp packet made from Parkside’s compostable films, with on-pack designs offering conversation starters surrounding mental health in a partnership with the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
Printed on the inside of each pack’s laminate material is a mental health conversation starter designed by CALM. Icebreakers such as “What gets you through tough times?” and “If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?” are intended as icebreakers to encourage open conversations between consumers and their friends.
This ‘Open Up’ concept was developed by PR agency Here Be Dragons, with the questions building upon CALM’s research that 56% of people in the UK avoid talking about their mental health by pretending to be ‘okay’.
The packets are made from Parkside’s Park2Nature range, which features its NatureFlex films. Sourced from Futamura, these solutions are made of high-barrier cellulose film layers – claiming to protect the crisps’ flavour and freshness while enabling compostability in home and industrial settings.
Seedling and OK Compost certification have been applied to the finished packs. They are also said to comply with the EU standard EN13432 for packaging recovery via biodegradation and composting.
“We are delighted that we were able to work on this design for Beavertown crisps and contribute to this campaign for mental health,” said Mark Shaw, sales account manager at Parkside. “Beavertown crisps provide that natural invitation to start sharing in a relaxed way, right there at the pub. A great idea if you ask me!’’
Andy Sweetman, sales and marketing director at Futamura, added: “We are delighted to be helping out in our own small way with such a brilliant initiative, using ethical packaging to help out in such an innovative way.”
More than 260 pubs across the UK – including locations in London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh – will offer the new Open Up crisps. Participating sites are also set to offer the packs for free on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.
Alongside Parkside, crisp manufacturer Yorkshire Crisp Company and artisanal crisp brand SMUG helped to develop the product’s cheddar and jalapeño flavour. SMUG and Parkside previously developed their own compostable crisp packet, said to decompose within twelve weeks and preserve the crisps’ texture and flavour throughout the supply chain.
After this development, Parkside collaborated with Mummy Meegz to provide TÜV-certified home compostable packaging for its vegan chocolate range. The pack claims to break down into biomass, water, and carbon dioxide within twenty-six weeks in a domestic compost heap; twelve weeks in a composting facility; and by 96% in thirty-six weeks if it enters the ocean.
More recently, The British Crisp Co. reported that its kerbside-recyclable paper crisp packet – laminated with Aquapak’s Hydropol polymer, which is said to be compostable in marine environments – is the first of its kind to be sold in the UK. The solution aims to keep eight billion crisp packets out of landfill or incineration every year.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The Brief: How viable is biorecycling for plastics?
Report: How the top brands are progressing on packaging sustainability
The Brief: Using ocean-bound plastic in packaging – how, why and should we?
No comments yet