About

Down 2 Earth is a pioneer in the development, production and distribution of eco friendly food packaging and catering disposables with partners in the UK, North America and the Far East.

THE FOUR BIG BENIFITS OF D2E:

  1. Low carbon – real, quantifiable reductions
  2. Low impact – we use renewable or recycled materials
  3. Low waste – organics recycling means we think resource, not waste
  4. Low cost – working direct with a manufacturer keeps cost down

These are REAL and QUANTIFIABLE benefits. We provide monthly statements detailing:

  • Carbon saved compared with standard packaging
  • Virgin material saved
  • Total potential landfill diversion

In the current climate, the business case for switching to environmentally sustainable practices cannot be underestimated.

THE BENEFITS ARE MANIFOLD:

  • enhanced brand perception and customer loyalty
  • Differentiation from competitors
  • Superb marketing / PR opportunities
  • Increased value of product offering

Environmental policy is informing practice, trends and consumer spending right across the catering sector.

Down 2 Earth partners with its clients to ensure that they are market leaders in this area. This involves the supply of packaging, and can be extended to provide provision of mixed food and packaging waste collections.

In summary, Down 2 Earths mission is to steer clear of confusion marketing, and be the trusted source of eco-friendly packaging and catering disposables.

OUR RANGE INCLUDES:

  • Cups & lids PLA-lined hot-drink cups with fully compostable sip-through lids.
  • Bagasse plates, bowls and hinged takeaway boxes from waste sugar cane fibre.
  • PLA cold cups, lids and deli containers from corn starch. Light, strong, safe.
  • Wedges unbleached card, corn starch liner and window.
  • Napkins unbleached, made in the EU from EU waste fibre.
  • Bags bioplastic sandwich bags, food wrapping sheets.
  • Carriers recycled paper carriers.
  • Cutlery corn and potato starch. High-heat resistant, robust.
  • Cassava plates, cups, bowls from cassava starch. Rigid, strong, versatile.
  • Bespoke custom printing, meal kits, bespoke cutlery and tableware products.

MATERIALS

Our products are made from either annually renewable or recycled plant sources: either starch
(corn, cassava or potato) or plant fibres.

COMPOSTING

All of our products are made from renewable or recycled materials, and with the exception of our cutlery, all are fully compostable. By compostable, we mean that they will turn back to soil in a short period of time (typically nine weeks) given the appropriate environment. There is an emerging organics recycling industry in the Ireland, and we work closely with composters in order make sure our products can be taken away and reprocessed with food waste.

If you use Down 2 Earth products in your retail outlets, canteens and offices, we would be delighted to offer advice on Brown Bin collections through out Ireland and details of sustainable waste management technologies.

Whilst our current cutlery version is made from renewable plant-based materials, the thickness and nature of the material means that it will not break down fast enough to be considered compostable.

We have a new version in development, due for release in 2010, and at that point we will have achieved our goal of having a product range where every single item can be composted.

We see this as a key step in improving consumer experience and acceptance of organics recycling – if all the food and packaging waste can be disposed of in the same stream, there will be no need for clients to be presented with an array of bins to choose between.

PRICING STRATEGY

We try and ensure that our approach to pricing matches our approach to products. Our pricing if flexible and appropriate for the market we operate within.

Due to our bulk manufacturing and our low central cost base we are able to offer very competitive pricing to customers who are willing to contract to us for good volumes and longer periods of time. Where appropriate we also provide for clients their brand logo within the cost of the product again where volumes provide.

If clients ask for a specific moulds for their products we may be prepared to absorb those costs again where the volumes are good.

KEY FACTS ABOUT DOWN 2 EARTH

  1. D2e develops, produces, and distributes environmentally friendly catering disposables and food packaging.
  2. D2e products are made from annually renewable or recycled materials, and are compostable or biodegradable. All D2e products can turn back to nutrient-rich soil.
  3. We provide a simple, effective and economic way for our clients to reduce their environmental impact and carbon footprint. D2e should be an integral part of any organization’s corporate social responsibility policy. Starting in 2010 we will provide monthly statements for clients which detail the amount of carbon saved (as much as 77% compared with standard plastic on some lines), virgin material saved, and potential landfill diversion.
  4. D2e helps clients set up food and packaging waste collections, so that these materials are diverted from landfill and recycled into valuable commodities: nutrient-rich compost or topsoil and biogas. All food and packaging waste can be disposed of in the same bin, giving a simple consumer experience.
  5. Sustainability is at the core of D2e ethos. We provide simple and economic tools which allow large organisations to effect positive change.
  6. D2e strict environmental code is at the core of every business and product decision, making D2e the trusted source of eco packaging.
  7. D2e is a young dynamic company that works closely with its clients to develop new and innovative products.
  8. D2e goal is to make eco packaging price-competitive with traditional oil-based equivalents. We do this by carrying out our own production and offering a more direct route to market with our partners in Vegware.
  9. D2e along with its partners invests 1% of its turnover in R&D, with a key success to date being the launch and development of the world’s first compostable hot cup lid.

MAKING PACKAGING SUSTAINABLE

Switching to D2e products has direct environmental benefits: lower carbon footprint, less use of virgin materials, and potential for landfill diversion. The company’s success lies in its absolute commitment to developing a fully compostable product range compliant with ASTM 6400 and EN13432 standards, and its desire to make environmentally sustainable packaging practical and
economic.

D2e takes care only to source materials from sustainable sources and to reduce carbon emissions wherever possible. Consequently, D2e hot drink cups use FSC and Rainforest Alliance certified sustainable paperboard, and all recycled paper products are made in the EU, primarily from EU waste.

THE D2E VISON

It is widely accepted that landfill does not offer a viable long-term solution to dealing with waste. D2e develops compostable catering disposables and food packaging using sustainable materials. This gives a win-win situation: less pressure on landfill, and the process of composting captures the nutrients and embodied energy. Unlike plastic packaging, used D2e is not waste, but a resource!

D2e follows its own strict environmental criteria, namely that all products must be made exclusively from annually renewable or recycled materials, and must be compostable. This eco perfectionism means that clients and consumers trust D2e to supply the most sustainable packaging in the market, and then follow through with a closed loop recycling system to make sure that the benefits of the materials continue after use.

OUR PARTNERS

Vegware now a “global brand” in sustainable packaging have allowed us to develop and produce a unique offering of products exclusive to D2e. We will continue to develop this relationship and bring many new products to the market in 2010. Our continued investment in this area has allowed us to compete with non compostables and products made from conventional plastics.

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY IN THE COMMUNITY

D2e are currently seeking partners with sustainable ideas that can be introduced at community level to promote a green ethos. We hope to sponsor these projects and work closely with these groups to Develop a sustainable “Ireland”. We welcome all ideas in this field and look forward to meeting with you in the near future.