Benson said that the finished package is easy to open but also easy to recycle, with the consumer able to “split it”, separating the film from the board with one swift pull. The board packaging is recycled as easily as all other card packaging product.

The board substrate and lining film can be selected according to the desired application.

Paul Tye, sales and marketing director of Split-it said: “The Split-it product is suited to a wide range of food applications, but the development was particularly created with ready meals and chilled product in mind.”

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Ready meals require the creation of a package utilising an oven-able board and PET lining film, whilst chilled short shelf life product could be created from FBB and a film dependant on product life.

‘Huge markets’

According to Benson, with regard to the potential market, plastic trays account for some 80% of the global market in these sectors, whilst pressed board trays account for just 10% along with the same amount for aluminium trays.

In the UK alone, the total market consists of some 6.5 billion trays per annum, with 60% of these in the chilled sector and 40% in frozen.

Tye said: “These are huge markets. Currently there is very little promotion of any environmentally friendly solutions.

“In addition to the ease of recycling, Split-it also provides a near 50% weight reduction compared to equivalent plastic tray, adding significant further arguments to its green credentials when calculating distribution costs.”

The company is also examining the potential for a similar product for use within the fresh sandwich market.