Towards new Packaging Solutions: Protective Material made from starch as a Sustainable Alternative

Whether electronics, ceramics, or glass—sensitive products need reliable protection during shipping. This can be achieved with traditional materials such as bubble wrap or PE foam. But are they sustainable for the future? With RENATURE® Wrap, Storopack has developed an environmentally friendly, home-compostable alternative made from plant starch. In an interview with K-Mag, Steffen Armbruster, Business Unit Manager at Storopack, explains how the new protective packaging works, what role yellow peas play, and why clear legal regulations for compostable packaging are urgently needed.

What was the motivation behind the development of RENATURE® Wrap—and how does it differ specifically from conventional bubble wrap or PE roll foam?

Steffen Armbruster: RENATURE® Wrap is a basic component of our new RENATURE® product family. This includes 3D packaging (RENATURE® 3D), insulated packaging (RENATURE® Thermo), and RENATURE® Wrap for wrapping and covering fragile goods for safe shipping.

We wanted to develop an innovative and sustainable alternative to existing products on the market in order to offer our customers better solutions for sustainable protective packaging.

RENATURE® Wrap is easy to use because it is very flexible and, thanks to its strength, can be easily joined together without adhesive and shaped into the desired form by lightly spraying it with water.

Compared to bubble wrap or PE foam rolls, the biggest difference is certainly its certified home compostability and the fact that it can be reused many times as packaging.

What was the deciding factor in choosing this raw material, and how do you assess its environmental impact?

Armbruster: We were looking for a raw material that was bio-based, resource-efficient, compostable, and at the same time did not compete with food. We came across a plant starch that is obtained from the residues of protein extraction from yellow peas. Yellow peas require little fertilizer and water to grow and are often used in sustainable agriculture to break up crop rotation. They improve soil fertility and help reduce diseases and pests. So it's a real win-win situation: the ideal raw material for sustainable packaging.

How do you ensure that RENATURE® Wrap is disposed of correctly in practice?

Armbruster: Bio-based, compostable packaging is only truly sustainable if its disposal process also works. We therefore rely on a multi-stage approach: the most sustainable option is to reuse the packaging, which is perfectly possible with RENATURE® Wrap as it is very flexible and can be quickly and individually adapted to the goods to be protected.

The next step is clear communication for the end consumer, for example in the form of QR codes, which we use to point out the locally permitted disposal options and also provide information about the TÜV Austria home composting certificate.

To make RENATURE® Wrap even more sustainable, uniform regulations for the approval of compostable packaging in organic waste bins, which unfortunately currently vary depending on the EU country and even at the municipal level, would provide even more clarity.

What feedback have you received regarding the handling of the material in the packaging process?

Armbruster: Our customers to date are very satisfied and we are receiving very positive feedback. Above all, the ease of handling, high flexibility, and fast adhesion are enormous advantages, as they allow three-dimensional shapes to be created in small quantities and with little effort. This enables our customers to respond quickly to their respective packaging requirements with just one packaging material. Bio-based materials are considered a great hope for the packaging industry.

Where do you currently see the greatest potential—and also the biggest misconceptions?

Armbruster: Unfortunately, packaging often has negative connotations in the public perception. Yet it serves an important function: protecting products, because only a product that arrives safely can be enjoyed and conserves resources. If this packaging is now made from bio-based materials, that is a big step toward greater sustainability in the packaging industry. Many companies are faced with the dilemma of balancing economic efficiency and sustainability.

How do you achieve this—and where would you like to see stronger political or market-driven impetus?

Armbruster: At Storopack, as a family-run, medium-sized company, sustainability is part of our corporate DNA. It is true that sustainable solutions are often more cost-intensive, but there is definitely a rapidly growing market for them, as end customers expect these sustainable solutions. We meet this requirement with our new RENATURE® products and are well positioned to serve this market segment.

Furthermore, sustainability is a central component of our corporate strategy, enabling us to develop long-term, innovative solutions such as RENATURE®. However, we also need planning and legal certainty from politicians. The first step in this direction was taken at the beginning of this year with the adoption of the PPWR.