New (organic) potato nets from NORMA are saving some 630 tons of plastic per year

Norma is saving on plastic consumption and it is not stopping at potatoes either. The new nets, which provide a shopper-friendly packaging, are true environmental giants from now on.

For the same strength, up to 40 percent less plastic is being used. Furthermore, the band and the net will in future be made of the same material, making it even easier to dispose of them properly.

New nets, familiar food quality

Bio Sonne private label potatoes are now offered in Claf® or extruded nets, with Erntekrone to follow soon. With 23 grams of plastic per square meter, the production of the nets for 1.5 kilos of organic potatoes requires fewer resources than conventional manufacturers (55g/sqm).

What's more, the highlight of the new packaging is that the band - which previously consisted of the composite material polyethylene and polypropylene (PE/PP) - now only contains polyethylene.

Since the net is also made entirely of polyethylene, it improves recycling and helps to ensure that the recycled material is sorted by type.

At first glance, the adaptation of the organic potato nets seems like a minimal change, but it is a big one.

After all, the weight of the packs sold annually at Norma totaled around 1,600 tons before the changeover. Now that the Claf® or extruded tubular net system is being used, this figure is reduced by around 630 tons.

Small steps to success

For years, the food discounter NORMA has relied on a comprehensive sustainability strategy that sometimes achieves great things with seemingly small adjustments. The savings in potato nets is just one example of this approach.

Norma has also already made far-reaching adjustments to cotton swabs, aluminum foil or the grass paper bags, all of which have just one goal: Saving resources - first and foremost plastic - and thus having a positive impact on the environmental balance.

CLAF® Bio Fabric™

The solution Norma decided to go with, however, is not the only possible packaging option. Those that wish to go further, can do so with CLAF® Bio Fabric™.

CLAF® Bio Fabric™ is a USDA Certified Biobased Product, and CLAF® Bio™ is approved by some of Europe’s most widely-trusted environmental agencies. They meet global standards in environmental sustainability, and provide a renewable alternative to petroleum-based open mesh nonwovens.

Consumer demand is rising for environmentally responsible and sustainable products, including packaging materials that are equally eco-friendly. CLAF® Bio Fabric™ is an open mesh nonwoven made with resins derived from renewably sourced sugarcane.

CLAF® Bio Fabric™ is derived from 96% plant based materials instead of petroleum, and is more environmentally friendly than petroleum based materials. It is strong, breathable, and has unique properties that make it a perfect fit for a variety of applications.

CLAF® Bio Fabric™ contains 96% biobased content, which is the percentage ratio of non-fossil organic carbon. It highly exceeds the minimum standard of 25% set by the USDA BioPreferred® Program for biobased products. It is also 100% recyclable, and is compatible with the current polyethylene recycle stream.

Explore what makes CLAF® Bio Fabric™ the biobased open mesh that speaks to increasing consumer demand for more sustainable solutions.