America’s eco packaging sector is set for a game change with the announcement of a new exclusive alliance between Edinburgh’s Vegware Ltd and Berkley Square, a division of Berk Enterprises, Inc.
This timely alliance is perfectly aligned with the US-wide movement to mandate composting of food scraps and the growing ban on disposable foam containers. Vegware’s completely compostable packaging already enjoys US coast-to-coast availability but this new alliance will see a step-change, bringing the unique Vegware line to over 100 US distributors and thousands of food service establishments. Berk foresees a 15% increase in overall sales initially, with substantial growth expected in coming years.
Vegware is a global brand of award-winning eco disposables made from renewable or recycled materials such as sugar cane fibre or corn. Vegware’s comprehensive range of eco packaging is certified compostable. So unlike most foodservice packaging, Vegware can be composted with food waste after use. Vegware products can biodegrade in less than 12 weeks. They are widely accepted for the food waste recycling sector which is growing rapidly to satisfy demand nationwide.
Berk Enterprises, Inc. has served the American food service disposables industry since 1945. The company operates out of its 200,000 square foot facility in Warren, Ohio and is currently comprised of three divisions: Berkley Square, which serves a nationwide distribution network with the most extensive range of cutlery, straws, environmentally friendly products as well as a broad line of food service disposables; Berk Paper & Supply a distributor of restaurant and janitorial supplies throughout Ohio and Pennsylvania; and Berk Concession Supply, which sells packaging and custom printed drink-ware for the fair, festival and the entertainment industry.
Recognizing the need for greener packaging, Berk Enterprises launched their own Environ line of cutlery and tableware many years ago, but with the growth in demand for green products, Berk realized it was time to launch an entire line of earth friendly products that were not only biodegradable, but also compostable, and therefore suitable for inclusion in food waste recycling.
Robert Berk, President of Berk Enterprises said: “With so many states mandating composting and banning foam containers, we expect a 40-50% increase in the number of brokers and distributors who carry compostable packaging. And with Vegware, Berk is in the strongest possible position to provide sustainable compostable alternatives. Creativity, problem solving, and value are the bedrock of what Berk Enterprises, Inc. has been built upon, and continues to be what fuels us today. We can see that Vegware is the solution helping food service go green. We already had experience in the eco disposables market with our Environ brand but saw a great opportunity to take on what is becoming the best world’s best-known brand of completely compostable packaging. We are very excited to introduce a whole line of unique eco products to the American market.”
Founded by Edinburgh entrepreneur Joe Frankel after a year as a researcher at the University of California, Vegware is up for business of the year in this year’s European Business Awards. The firm has enjoyed 901% growth over five years and was recently ranked by Deloitte among the UK’s 30 fastest growing firms, 160th fastest in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “I was inspired by the American can-do spirit and saw the huge potential of these renewable materials to reduce environmental impacts before and after use. At the core of what we do is a simple realization - you can't recycle food with plastic in it, and you can't recycle plastic with food on it. Vegware can be simply recycled with food waste after use. We have won dozens of awards for our compostable products, even meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace. I am delighted we will be partnering with Berk to boost our presence in the US and help thousands of American food establishments go green and go zero waste.”
Keen to reduce waste costs and boost recycling, US municipalities are turning to composting as a way to avoid landfill and create a resource from waste. Just like Scotland, San Francisco requires residents and businesses to properly separate recyclables and compostables and keep them out of the landfill. Composting is already widespread in many areas, with New York, Vermont and Massachusetts already introducing similar mandates to San Francisco.
In late December 2013, in a bid to boost recycling rates, New York City Council voted to ban expanded foam containers. Washington DC is considering the same. Bans are already in place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Portland, San Francisco and many other cities.
Berk Enterprises’ new alliance with Vegware is set to provide the solution for zero waste in food service; supporting municipalities’ need to reduce waste to landfill.
