Refibr.

Refibr. food packaging / Source: Sustainabl.

AsiaBagasseCompostableEuropeFood & BeverageFood GradeFreezer SafeMicrowave SafeMoisture BarrierMoulded FibreOil ResistantOven SafePackagingRecyclableRefibr

WHAT WE SAY:

While a huge proportion of the world’s moulded fibre products are made in Asia, too often they are shipped halfway around the world – and in return, the Global North sends its plastic waste in the other direction to pollute local environments.

Which is why we are delighted to see Refibr.’s maker Sustainabl. selling its moulded fibre products into the Hong Kong market – global issues need local solutions.

Refibr

WHAT IS REFIBR?

Refibr. is a Moulded Fibre product from Sustainabl., a sustainable packaging startup based in Hong Kong.
It is sourced from leftover bio-waste produced by the sugarcane and wheat industries – a material called Bagasse.
Sustainabl. produces a range of sustainable single-use food packaging items, from pizza trays to bowls and cups.
The company claims that its products are recyclable in the paper waste stream, biodegradable, as well as both home and commercially compostable.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Compostable
Food Grade
Freezer Safe
Microwave Safe
Moisture Barrier
Oil Resistant
Oven Safe
Recyclable

INDUSTRY:

Food & Beverage
Packaging

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

Hong Kong, where Sustainabl. is based, has a major plastic pollution issue. In 2020, plastics made up 21% of the city’s total municipal solid waste and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than global average. It is partly why Sustainabl. founder Richard Oliver decided to launch a material that is plastic-free in the territory.
Refibr. is FDA food safety-certified, EU food safety-certified and has TÜV composting certificates.
The company is currently looking to get certified for various eco-forward activities in relation to its Refibr. material, but tells PlasticFree that it has been slowed by being the first company to ask for certain tests in the territory.
Refibr. bagasse is coating-free, which means it is free of PFAS chemicals, but also means it has limited water and grease resistance. This resistance is created by the moulding process, where the bagasse is pulped and pressed into shape with high pressure and temperature.
Sustainabl’s marketing manager, Jayme Ellis, admits Refibr. packaging can be four to eight times more expensive when compared to plastic products and polystyrene products in Hong Kong. This is largely because plastic is so cheap in the region.
All Refibr. packaging is fully customisable and uses vegetable and water-based eco-inks, which can be printed directly on the bagasse itself.
Although Refibr. products are compostable, Ellis says composting activity in Hong Kong is negligible. This is something the company hopes will change as a plastic ban is introduced in 2025 for food businesses.
Refibr. is used in a HKD 2 million (USD 254,800) initiative with Deliveroo that looks to encourage restaurants in Hong Kong to drop single-use plastic and switch to sustainable packaging.
Other clients include Hong Kong’s Grand Hyatt hotel, Hong Kong’s Fullerton Hotels, and virtual food hall Kin for which it provides coffee cups, bags, pizza boxes and more. The company also has UK-based clients.

Refibr. food packaging / Source: Sustainabl.

KEY FACTS:

40%

Hong Kong's microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average.

200°C

Refibr. is suitable for hot and cold food products, and is ovenproof and microwavable up to 200°C.

Key Questions to Ask:

Can you get deeper insight into Refibr’s supply chain?

Sustainabl. says that its feedstocks are sourced from China and would otherwise typically be discarded as agricultural waste, however it gives few further details about its supply chain.

Is Refibr. suitable for your end use-case?

Being uncoated is a positive step in terms of eliminating potential pollutants from the finished products, but it brings a performance trade off. That may be fine if you are packaging dry foods, but may make its products less suitable for hot liquid foods, such as soup dishes, which is why many of Sustainabl’s bowl and cups are made from paper, rather than Refibr.

What design trade-offs will you make in order to maintain a benign end-of-life?

A product is only as sustainable as its weakest element. Sustainabl. offers vegetable and water-based eco-inks, which can be printed directly on the bagasse itself to reduce the amount of materials required and avoid end-of-life issues, however you will need to ensure your graphic design is suited for the material.

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