NatureFlex x Kencko

Kencko smoothie sachets made with NatureFlex / Source: Kencko

AluminiumAsiaCelluloseEuropeFood & BeverageGlassNatureFlexNorth AmericaPackaging

4 MINUTE READ

Nadine Smith

WHAT WE SAY:

‘Some assembly required’ should be the tagline of hyper-trendy Kencko Smoothies, the freeze-dried powdered ‘nutrition’ drink that arrives packed in individual sachets, mixed-with-water at use.

Whether you actually need a pre-portioned waterless smoothie mix in your life is a valid question, but the brand’s use of NatureFlex’s plastic-free film flow wrap ensures the product is not just another wasteful sachet set to litter our streets forever. Or is it? At present, the brand is pairing NatureFlex with another biofilm to achieve the desired properties, a biofilm that is only disposable through industrial composting. The brand is actively working towards eliminating this challenge to create a home compostable iteration by the end of 2022. A mission we can get behind.

KEY FACTS:

Available in the US and Europe, Kencko’s freeze-dried smoothie mixes are now packaged in a commercially compostable film partially made with Futamura’s NatureFlex.
The smoothies are designed to give consumers a source of fruits and vegetables on-the-go. The dry powdered product is mixed with water and shaken to combine at the point of use.
The laminated packaging film currently consists of NatureFlex, a TÜV Austria home compostable certified Cellulose film derived from regenerated wood pulp cellulose. NatureFlex is combined with another biofilm, manufactured and packaged by Bio4Pack. The second biofilm is essential to stop the hydrophilic powder from being exposed to moisture or water, keeping it dry between production and end-consumption, preventing contamination or spoilage.
The use of this second biofilm means the final product is not 100% plastic-free and requires industrial composting for disposal. With so few commercial composting facilities globally, this end-of-life is uncertain and unlikely to materialise.
When untreated and uncoated, the NatureFlex film composts into CO2, water, mineral salts and new biomass, and for composting certification there must be no negative chemical effects on the final compost.
Kencko has stated that its worked with its manufacturer to create a 100% home compostable film that will be rolled out across its entire product range in 2022. This film has been tested to break down fully in home compost within six months. In contrast, a banana peel takes one month to decompose in home compost or two years if simply dropped into the garden.

Kencko trial pack / Source: Kencko

The smoothie mixes are designed to be a source of fruits and vegetables on-the-go / Source: Kencko

DIVE DEEPER:

Over 855 billion single-use sachets are disposed each year – enough to cover the entire surface of Earth. As our Co-Founder, Sian Sutherland, says, “single-dose sachets embody our hyper-consumptive, throwaway culture that is enabled by this miracle but misused and indestructible material – plastic. They’re not going to be recycled, they’re entirely valueless and they’re contaminating our environment from the depths of the ocean to the soil we grow our food in.”
A Plastic Planet is on a mission to eradicate the sachet entirely, but viable solutions are needed to serve vast swathes of the global population who rely on these affordable, individually portioned packs – something that is particularly prominent in Asia.
Kencko’s use of NatureFlex holds promise. While we wait to see what the material composition of the new home compostable film is, its proven ability to return to nature after use fits with the emerging conversation around nutrient-based materials.
Alongside the transition to 100% home compostability, Kencko’s freeze-dried smoothie design has another environmental benefit – the removal of water from the saleable drink. This ‘add-your-own-water’ approach reduces product weight, in turn reducing transport costs and (where relevant) emissions.
The Kencko smoothies are available by subscription across the US and Europe (excluding the UK). A box of 20 smoothies costs EUR 49.80 (USD 59.80)
After making the smoothie, the current pack can be industrially composted, according to EU standard EN13432.

"NatureFlex was the obvious sustainable packaging choice for us; it’s a functional and viable alternative to conventional plastic film."

Lucy Greeves – Director of Brand, Kencko

Key Design Considerations:

Navigating realistic disposal methods

These sachets are designed for use on-the-go, and it is fact that on-the-go waste is disposed of wherever and whenever possible, not saved and placed in the appropriate bin later on. Given that these sachets are currently designed for industrial composting, and soon home composting, one has to wonder how the brand expects consumers to access these waste streams when in the office or travelling. Disposal will likely be in general waste and/or plastic recycling streams, meaning the well-intended sachet will never breakdown as planned. This is a huge hurdle to overcome. Brands should prioritise bold, informative, and regular communications strategies to educate users on correct disposal, but we cannot help but ask if a prefill smoothie system, using Aluminium or Glass packaging, may be a less impactful solution.

Dry goods only

NatureFlex is only viable in this use case because Kencko’s product is dry. Any liquids – such as condiments – would not be contained by the material and so the search continues for a waterproof, plastic-free and compostable sachet to satisfy our flavoursome desires.