en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sadia has introduced new compostable trays for its 350-gram frozen lasagna line. The project, developed over three years in partnership with Biona, a sustainable packaging company under Melhoramentos, makes Sadia the first brand in the Brazilian market to adopt such a solution for its ready-to-eat frozen meal line.
The material for these new trays comes from eucalyptus fiber sourced from Melhoramentos' managed forests, a renewable raw material. After composting, the trays decompose within 75 days. In comparison, traditional plastic packaging takes an average of about 100 years to decompose. Luiz Franco, Marketing and Innovation Director at MBRF, stated that this initiative directly helps reduce the environmental impact across the entire production chain. Sadia uses approximately 9 million trays annually for its 350-gram lasagna line, and this transition means a significant reduction in plastic waste generation, with no impact on consumer prices.
In terms of technical performance, the new trays withstand temperatures from -40°C to 220°C, supporting direct transfer from the freezer to the oven, microwave, or air fryer without compromising food quality and safety. MBRF's Innovation Center conducted rigorous tests, including shelf-life analysis and consumer home-use studies, with no changes made to the lasagna recipe. Franco added that tests tracking the decomposition process by burying the trays in soil confirmed that they fully decompose within 75 days. The product can be disposed of in regular trash as organic waste or collected through separate collection systems for recycling. Water and oil barriers ensure the integrity of the lasagna during cooking.
This initiative is part of MBRF's ongoing ESG actions. According to NielsenIQ data, Sadia pioneered frozen lasagna in Brazil in the late 1990s and has maintained a leading sales position in this category. Kantar's Sustainable Industry Index study shows that 87% of Brazilians want to make more sustainable choices, and 55% of respondents have tried, used, or are open to brands with a positive environmental impact.
Sadia has previously advanced sustainability initiatives, such as its partnership with eureciclo on the Hot Bowls line since 2024, which compensates for 100% of post-consumer packaging, achieving the recovery of over 20 million units annually, equivalent to more than 500 tons of waste properly disposed of. Franco stated that this new development is another step towards reducing waste and using resources responsibly. After evaluating market performance, the company will look to the future, with other products being tested to adopt compostable packaging for more foods in the MBRF portfolio.
The new Biona packaging has received BRCGS Packaging Materials certification, Version 7. Carolina Alcoforado, Executive Director of Management and New Business at Melhoramentos, stated that developing compostable packaging for a demanding category like frozen ready-to-eat meals demonstrates that scalability is achievable when sustainability is accompanied by technical performance, commercial and industrial viability. This project proves that forest-based materials can replace single-use plastics in complex applications while maintaining safety, functionality, and consumer experience. The 350-gram lasagna with the new tray is now available at major points of sale nationwide.
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