Magic srl has launched the G-pad, a new biodegradable and compostable food pad.

In its continuous innovation process, g-pad is the natural outcome of Spongel – Magic’s patented compostable super absorbent powder – and Airgel g-grade – a compostable airlaid – both certified OK Compost.

G-pad combines Airgel g-grade with a compostable film trough a hot bonding process: no glue, no chemical additives, no adhesive are used, while the absorbent capacity is the same as traditional plastic film pads.

G-pad was inspired and conceived according to the principles of the circular economy, so that the new food pad at the end of its lifecycle can be disposed with household organic waste for industrial composting.

It simplifies consumers’ experience by supporting proper recycling. When the packaging must be cleaned because of food residues, this often involves difficult separation steps: the use of compostable packaging can simplify all this and provides a boost to recycle more willingly, properly, and easily.

A study carried out by Doxa in 2021 for Aticelca (Associazione Tecnica Italiana Cellulosa e Carta) shows that consumers are increasingly careful to separate the different components of complex packaging, if they are put in a position to do so. On a sample of 1000 Italian individuals between 18 and 85 years it turns out that when you throw away a packaging made of different materials 95% is willing to separate and only 5% is not. Among those who separate, 59% always separates the components of different materials and 6% separates components only if they are to be removed at the time of opening.

Consumers are therefore ready to play their part, but they expect packaging that is easy to break down.

The challenge food packaging manufacturers are already facing is to increase the development of environmentally friendly packaging, coming from renewable sources or biodegradable and compostable origin and to spread the use of so-called “green packaging” whose components are increasingly easy to separate so that each material is sent to its recycling chain.

G-pad benefits:

• create a simplified experience for consumers;
• can be disposed with household organic waste;
• can be recovered through industrial composting;
• extend the product shelf life and help in reducing food waste;
• contribute to the production of quality compost;
• can be an alternative solution to non-recyclable packaging;
• reduce plastic contamination in separate collection.