Potatopak Limited

What Do We Make?

Potatopak UK has focused on the development of biodegradeable products for use by the food packaging industry where our trays can be seen on the shelves of supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s containing organic fruit. Increasingly we are supplying to smaller businesses which require bespoke colouring of our containers to complement their own identities. We also have a growing demand for food trays for outside catering events.

Potatopak NZ manufactures plates, trays, bowls and punnets which are designed primarily for the serving of food. We supplement these items with our range of wooden cutlery (knives, forks and spoons) to give a complete environmentally-friendly solution for the serving of food at your BBQ, picnic and party. Potatopak products are suitable for all fast-food applications for acceptable periods of time.

Our products are stronger, more rigid and have greater insulation properties than their polystyrene counterparts. They are freezer safe - most foods can be frozen in Potatopak products and then reheated in the microwave in two-minute bursts! (While the product can hold hot contents, we are currently undertaking research and development to enable the product to withstand boiling water and blood-meat products)

Potatopak products can also be used by food retailers, for takeaways, and gift packaging.

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How we make our products:

The major ingredient is potato starch and this is currently sourced in two ways: the first is from dedicated starch production companies and the second and ideal source, which is now emerging, is from re-processed potato waste.

Potatoes, on their journey from spud farm to French fries, are blasted with water, washed, scrubbed, and at 120kph, pushed through a tube fitted with a series of knives. The waste water from this is full of starch from the cut surfaces of the Potatoes. The starch is extracted and, in doing so, it returns clean water to be re-used by the potato processor and dried potato starch to be used by us in the making of our trays and plates!

Once we receive the dried starch, we process it in a high-speed pressure thermoforming machine that inserts the powdered starch between a set of moulds of the desired shape that we want to make. The mould closes and the starch is pressurised and 'cooked' into the rigid and strong shape. An automated handling system then extracts the tray ready for the next cycle.

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