Sabert Corporation Europe has helped Carambola serve school meals on domestically compostable and certified-recyclable ready-meal trays made from over 95% bagasse fibres.
Sabert’s PULP Ultra food packaging is made from 95% bagasse fibres and treated with a barrier spray coating, which comprises <5% of the pack. Suitable for single PET sealing or multi-welding, it is believed to outperform existing market alternatives, including laminated products.
The packaging is classified as green, and therefore recyclable, under the UK’s Recycling Assessment Methodology. It is also certified as compostable under TÜV OK Compost Home and Industrial.
Reportedly, it contains no intentionally-added PFAS and is designed for full compliance with the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Pulp Ultra is safe for use in freezers, ovens and microwaves, including high-speed ovens. It claims to maintain the integrity of frozen foods and the freshness of perishable foods, as well as keeping factory-conditioned items intact.
It is also designed to deliver ‘outstanding’ Oil and Grease Resistance (OGR) permeation in direct-contact hot food applications, such as fresh, ready-to-eat dishes and hot foods.
Carambola first approached Sabert in search of 100% domestically compostable packaging for use in its school meals programme. At the same time, the new packaging was required to meet children’s needs and capture their interest.
“It needed to be cool to the touch and the right size for the particular portion sizes required for children’s meals,” explains Jenny Eustace, general manager at Carambola. “It also needed to be something that was aesthetically pleasing for children.”
“Carambola needed a tray that was truly multi-functional,” says Matt Nash, sales manager at Sabert. “They needed a tray that was sealable, ovenable, freezable and that could travel as well.
“We had to get over a lot of hurdles to get to where we are today. We looked at every single material that is available to Sabert and Pulp Ultra just ticked all the boxes for the customer.”
Apparently, Pulp Ultra is a ‘highly effective’ solution for Carambola, unlocking the required performance through the production and regeneration processes.
Said to be the ‘first’ domestically compostable tray for children’s ready meals in Ireland, it has also helped Carambola exceed its sustainability goals and contribute to the environmental practices of the schools it serves.
“Now that we use Pulp Ultra, everything about how we produce our meals and everything about the child’s experience in school is completely different and worlds apart from where we were prior to working with Sabert,” says Colm O’Brien, co-founder and co-MD at Carambola.
“Working with Sabert has been a joy, and I don’t say that about many providers. When we first met Sabert, they came to visit and looked at what we were producing. They asked us about our longer-term objectives around sustainability, around the green agenda.
“They went away and put their creative minds together and came back with a truly remarkable product, the first domestically compostable ready-meals tray in Ireland.”
“Pulp Ultra has been a wonderful packaging solution for us,” Eustace concludes. “One of the best things about working with Sabert was that they really listened to our requirements. They spent a huge amount of time with us learning our business, learning both our challenges and our wins, and finding us the best possible solution to fit our needs.”
The news comes after Sabert Corporation Europe released PULP Ultra across Europe and the UK & Ireland earlier this year.
In another development, Amcor, Metsä Group and G. Mondini have revealed a fully integrated fibre-based tray system for protein and chilled ready-meal applications. The AmFiber tray features a lightweight barrier liner and top web and responds to rising consumer confidence in more sustainable materials.
Ravenwood Packaging has also joined forces with Troya Alimentos to introduce Mexico’s ‘first’ linerless, tray-based packaging for fresh produce. Designed to align with Mexico’s evolving regulations on single-use plastics and avoid plastic nets, the trays are being applied to products such as avocados, tomatoes, citrus, mangos and seasonal produce.
If you liked this story, you might also enjoy:
The ultimate guide to packaging innovation in 2026
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: what to know in 2026
Everything you need to know about global packaging sustainability regulation
No comments yet