The Future of Meat Packaging: High Barrier Fiber Trays

The Challenge: Plastic in Packaging MAP stands for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). It is a packaging technology that replaces the air in a package with a specific gas mixture of N2, O2 and CO2 to extend shelf life, preserve quality, and improve food safety. It’s widely used in meat packaging.

Traditionally, plastics such as PET and PP have been used to make MAP trays. These lead to significant plastic waste creation. In the US alone, ~7Bn MAP trays are used/year. Innovation in MAP trays has primarily been around using more recycled content, scrap-reduction, or light-weighting. These are good steps but given the extent of plastic waste crises, the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly alternatives, and stricter regulations, there is a dire need to significantly reduce the use of plastic itself.

Cirkla’s solution: High Barrier Fiber Trays

We took this problem head on and invested significant development efforts over the last 12 months to build patented high barrier fiber MAP trays that can seamlessly replace plastic trays, reducing plastic waste by ~85-90%.

Clear sustainability claims:
1. Made from plant fibers – sugarcane bagasse
2. Reduces plastic waste by ~85-90%
3. Cirkla’s innovative easy-peel liners allow for effortless separation of the fiber base and the liner post-consumer use. The fiber base can be recycled in the paper stream, while the liner can be disposed of in plastic recycling bins
Technical performance parity:
1. Designed to beat plastic performance in terms of product rigidity and seal strength; plug-&-play with zero capex for seamless transition
2. Proprietary high barrier liner to achieve oxygen and water vapor barrier
3. Meets shelf life for beef, pork, poultry & seafood. We’ve successfully conducted tests with leading meat packers and processors in the US and have seen phenomenal success.
Cost competitive: Viable price-points for easier adoption
Commercial scale manufacturing: We plan to supply millions of these trays next year

These trays will be available on the shelves with major retailers starting Feb 2025.

About Cirkla

Cirkla helps responsible brands meet their sustainable packaging goals

Made from plant fibers such as sugarcane bagasse (an agricultural byproduct), bamboo and wood pulp, our molded fiber products are truly circular, high-performance, and commercially viable alternatives to traditional rigid plastics.

We’ve built a variety of industry-first solutions such as Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for meat, ready meal packaging, dairy tubs, compostable coffee capsules, scoops, etc.

With deep expertise in molded fiber innovation and a large manufacturing base, we work with brands throughout their journey – from product development to large-scale commercial delivery. gocirkla.com

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