Britian's The Guardian has become the first national newspaper to switch to a biodegradeable wrap for its newspapers and supplements. The first papers to use the new packaging were delivered Jan 12.
The new potato starch-based wrapper replaces the polyethylene wrapper previously used. The change comes following feedback from readers.
Instead of recycling the wrapper with other single-use plastics, readers are being encouraged to compost the potato starch material or put it in food waste bins. According to the newspaper, the packaging does not contain any genetically modified material.
The new wrap material was introduced across London, Kent, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk in advance of a national roll out.
The move to potato starch wrapping will increase production costs for The Guardian. The price of the weekday edition will increase 20p to £2.20, while the cost of the Saturday edition will increase by 30p to £3.20. The Observer (printed on Sundays) will increase by 20p to £3.20. This is the first price increase in three years.