Interviews · 9min read

Interview with Merav Koren from TIPA®

Learn about TIPA®’s compostable packaging, explore which brands TIPA® is currently supplying, and discover why the Plastic Packaging Tax penalises green solutions.

  

About TIPA®

Since TIPA®’s founding in 2010, the nature-inspired flexible packaging company has proved itself as a pioneer in the plastic-free movement. Guided by the vision of having the same end-of-life as organic matter while maintaining the qualities of conventional plastics that consumers and brands have come to rely on, TIPA®’s dedicated team of tech-savvy and environmentally aware professionals has developed an exciting range of packaging solutions that mimic plastic’s composition but can be safely returned to the biosphere. TIPA®’s packaging solutions are specially designed for the food and fashion industries.

About Merav Koren

Merav Koren has worked as TIPA®️’s Vice President of Marketing since 2014. Prior to joining the Israeli compostable flexible packaging company, Merav spent over 20 years building a successful career in the content and marketing spheres. She previously held a string of prestigious positions, including Marketing Manager at Cisco, Director of Marketing at Jungo, VP of Marketing at Medici Medical, and Creative Director at Leo-Bernett.

 

Tell us more about the technology behind the different types of packaging in TIPA®️'s compostable bioplastics portfolio.

The idea behind TIPA®️'s technology is to emulate the positive features of flexible plastic without the guilt that comes from knowing that the film will end up as plastic waste when we are finished using it.

Our R&D team is one of the world leaders in this field and has created a series of patented films and laminates, each of which is adapted to replace a parallel conventional plastic film or conventional plastic film application. 

Over the years, TIPA®️ has accumulated a deep proficiency and extensive knowledge of compostable materials, which has enabled us to create a portfolio of packaging solutions that meet the quality of conventional plastic in terms of their technical characteristics like transparency, printability, flexibility, and more.  It’s also very unique to provide a compostable solution that can fit into existing supply chains and integrate easily into conventional packaging machinery. TIPA®️ offers a ‘plug and play’ compostable solution that works very similarly to the way conventional plastic does.

 

TIPA®️ was founded on the three principles of circular economy as defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. What are these principles, and how is TIPA®️ working with global bodies to support the transition to more circular economies?

Our perspective is that if nature’s packaging is circular, why can’t ours be? Take bananas, for example, the fruit is protected by a peel, which after use, returns to nature. 

By offering a compostable alternative to a non-recyclable material like conventional flexible plastic films, TIPA® addresses plastic waste and pollution from the earliest phase —its design.  The circularity of TIPA® packaging is similar to that of a banana peel—it preserves the product its packing, but when you’re finished with it, our compostable packaging will turn into compost in a composter facility within a few months, which in turn, helps to enrich our soil. Just like in nature, TIPA®'s packaging provides a fully circular solution.

 

 

What are the benefits of utilising TIPA®️ packaging for foods?

Consumers can throw their food packaging into the organic waste bin with their orange and banana peels. For brands who want to be more responsible about their packaging choices, but are limited by health, safety, and supply chain requirements, TIPA®️ is a plug-and-play solution.

 

You serve customers along the entire packaging supply chain. What brands is TIPA® currently supplying, and how does your company cater to their individual needs?

TIPA® works with many brands internationally. We’ve worked together with Grupo Bimbo to pack their natural bread line Bimbo Vital’ where transparency and ease of integration was very important. JusteBio, a French leader in the distribution of organic dried fruits, nuts, seeds, and legumes, wanted to remove conventional plastic from their entire supply chain without reducing their output and continuing to work with their local suppliers and packaging machinery in France, which TIPA facilitated. The Happy Pear, an Irish-founded health & wellness brand that sells granola, now use TIPA packaging without compromising on their sustainability ethos or their stand-out, colourful branding, and many more.

When it comes to food packaging, each product requires careful packaging to maximise shelf life, brand impact, and ease of integration with existing the brand’s existing supply chains. For this reason, TIPA offers a huge advantage for medium and large brands who want to go compostable.

 

The UK’s consultation period for the proposed Plastic Packaging Tax recently came to an end. TIPA® made headlines when it criticised the proposal’s shortcomings. In what ways are you dissatisfied with the proposed tax and why?

The Plastic Packaging Tax is an important law, but if the goal of this tax is to reduce plastic waste and pollution, we don’t see any reason for certified compostable plastics to be included in the definition of taxable plastic. In order to move forward, we must adopt more technology to support organic waste recycling and promote solutions that integrate with natural recycling systems like compost. By including compostable plastics in the tax, the law penalises green solutions.

 

Learn more on tipa-corp.com | Connect with Merav Koren on LinkedIn | Videos & Imagery: TIPA®