BIOPAP S.r.l. Società Benefit (/ˈbaɪ.oʊ.pæp/, Italian: [ˈbi.oˌpap]), commonly known as BIOPAP, is an Italian company based in Settimo Milanese, Lombardy, Italy. Founded in 2001 by Michelangelo Anderlini, Maria Teresa Brassiolo and Filippo Maria Rossi, the company specializes in the production of biodegradable, compostable and thermoformed trays for food, made out of carton board.
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The legal and operational headquarters of BIOPAP are located at Via Thomas Alva Edison 237, 20019 Settimo Milanese (MI), Lombardy.
The headquarters are positioned at coordinates .
History
Origins as Cartonspecialist S.r.l. BIOPAP S.r.l. was originally established as Cartonspecialist S.r.l. in Settimo Milanese. In 2012, it was listed in the Official Bulletin of the Lombardy Region as part of a regional network for sustainable industrial development. By 2018, the company had been producing and distributing food containers under the BIOPAP brand for about fifteen years, focusing on cellulose-based packaging made from renewable materials for catering and ready-meal sectors.
Transition to BIOPAP S.r.l. The company later adopted the corporate name BIOPAP S.r.l. and expanded its production of compostable food packaging. By the early 2020s had adopted the legal form of Benefit Company (Società Benefit), with a business model based on renewable raw materials and circular-economy practices.
New production facility In 2023 a new manufacturing plant was opened in Settimo Milanese. The facility doubled annual production capacity to about 100 million containers and introduced energy-efficiency and waste-reduction measures.
Current profile BIOPAP is listed among Italian manufacturers of biodegradable and compostable food packaging, exporting to multiple markets.
Operations BIOPAP organizes its activities into the following business areas:
Foodservice packaging BIOPAP produces compostable trays and containers designed for professional catering, such as in schools, hospitals, and large-scale canteens. The products are suitable for freezing, oven use, and microwave heating.
Ready-meal and industrial packaging The company supplies sustainable packaging solutions to the food industry, including trays specifically adapted for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and vacuum-sealed systems. These products are widely used by ready-meal producers and large-scale food processors, combining durability with environmentally friendly materials. A sector report by Difesa del Cittadino notes that the company’s BIOPAP trays are mono-material cellulose containers usable from freezer to conventional oven, compostable and recyclable, and already used in several food-service segments such as ready meals, take-away, and collective catering.
Customized sustainable solutions BIOPAP manufactures compostable packaging systems adapted to specific business requirements as alternatives to plastic-based materials. This includes branded packaging projects and designs adapted for logistics, food delivery services, and retail chains.
Corporate affairs BIOPAP S.r.l. Società Benefit is jointly owned by Alfabio S.r.l. (60%) and Novacart S.p.A. (40%).
BIOPAP invests 3% of its revenue on research and development, higher than the industry average of 2.94%.
Finances The key financial indicators of BIOPAP S.r.l. Società Benefit are (as at the financial year ending 31 December): Year Revenue (in million €) Profit after tax (in million €) Number of Employees 2019 4,31 0,23 12 2020 5,04 0,17 17 2021 7,60 0,68 20 2022 8,38 0,45 24 2023 7,70 0,34 26 2024 8,96 0,12 29
Sustainability and certifications
Sustainability
Sustainability and production Since its foundation BIOPAP operates in the sustainable packaging sector for the reduction of the environmental impact deriving from the use of traditional materials, mainly mono-use plastics. The company applies the resource circularity principle across its supply chain, using renewable raw materials, recycling production scraps, and enabling products to be reintroduced into organic recovery processes at the end of their life cycle. BIOPAP integrates environmental sustainability into its industrial, logistical, and product design processes.
Materials The company uses only paper and cellulose from sustainably managed forests that are certified under the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) system. This maintains the traceability of raw materials and meets environmental, social, and economic standards in forest management. BIOPAP products meet the European standard EN 13432:2002, which sets the requirements for compostability and biodegradability of materials. All packaging is meant to be thrown away with organic waste, where it naturally breaks down under industrial composting conditions. The production process aims to reduce waste; residues are collected and reintegrated into production, which helps cut down on waste and the use of new resources.
Production sites and energy sources BIOPAP’s sustainability practices extend beyond its products to include the energy sources it uses. For this reason, it has built a production facility in Settimo Milanese which is designed as a green building according to bioclimatic and energy efficiency criteria. The plant uses electricity coming only from renewable sources to reduce direct CO₂ emissions and the building is designed to promote energy savings through thermal insulation, natural lighting and controlled ventilation. Process water is treated and reused while raw materials are sourced by prioritizing suppliers with low environmental impact.
myclimate Life Cycle Assessment In 2021, the environmental organisation myclimate conducted a life-cycle assessment of a BIOPAP cellulose-based tray, finding that it generated approximately 32 percent lower CO₂ emissions compared with an equivalent aluminium container.
Certifications
ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System BIOPAP is certified for compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 standard for quality management systems. The certification was issued by Certiquality, a certification body recognised by ACCREDIA, the Italian National Accreditation Body.
UNI EN 13432:2002 – Compostability (European Standard) BIOPAP’s packaging is certified compostable under the European standard EN 13432:2002, which defines requirements for packaging recoverable through composting and biodegradation. The certification was granted by the Consorzio Italiano Compostatori (CIC) under the “Compostabile CIC” mark, managed in collaboration with Certiquality.
BPI Compostability Certification (North America) BIOPAP is certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) for compliance with ASTM D6400 and D6868 compostability standards used in North America.
PEFC Chain of Custody – Sustainable Fibre Sourcing BIOPAP obtained a PEFC Italian Chain of Custody certification for sourcing cellulose-based raw materials from sustainably managed European forests. The certification is registered under PEFC Italia and complies with PEFC ST 2002:2020 standards.
Aticelca 501 – Paper Recyclability (UNI 11743:2019) BIOPAP’s trays are certified by Aticelca (Italian Technical Association for Paper and Pulp) for recyclability with paper. Tests were conducted in accordance with the UNI 11743:2019 / Aticelca 501 laboratory method for coated paper packaging.
Technologies
BIOPAP MAP The company conducts ongoing research on materials aimed at reducing environmental impact. In 2022, it patented a technology called MAP, which received an award the same year. The MAP system produces food trays made from cellulose-based paper and vacuum-sealed with BIO heat-shrink film, both recyclable and compostable. The trays maintain residual oxygen (O₂) levels below 1% after 30 days and can withstand temperatures from −80 °C to +145 °C.
BIOPAP Easy System
The BIOPAP Easy System is a food packaging and sealing setup used in the food service sector, including takeaway and delivery operations. It includes three components: compostable containers, a semi-automatic heat-sealing machine, and compostable sealing film. BIOPAP LC containers are made from renewable materials and can be used for refrigeration, freezing, and heating in conventional or microwave ovens. They are certified as compostable under the European standard EN 13432 and can be recycled with paper waste. The heat-sealing machine is a semi-automatic benchtop device with digital control of parameters such as sealing time and temperature. It uses a modular mould that allows sealing up to three containers at once and switching between formats. The operating cycle includes automatic sealing, film advancement, and cutting. The compostable sealing film is cut by the machine to fit BIOPAP LC containers. Sealed containers can be used directly for serving.
BIOPAP Genius Meal Tray The BIOPAP Genius Meal Tray is a biodegradable and compostable meal tray system intended for use in hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics. It replaces traditional trays that require collection and washing after use. It is a patented product, which has been reognized by some awards.
Industry presence Partnerships
The Optimist The communication strategy, both in Italy and internationally, of BIOPAP is conceived and managed by The Optimist, a communication and branding agency from Milan.
Melinda and Ghelfi Ondulati BIOPAP has developed a biodegradable and reusable fruit container with Ghelfi Ondulati for Melinda. The container is completely made out of paper, with no use of adhesives or glue. Other characteristics are the use of water-based inks and the material's flexibility allows it to accommodate fruits of different sizes.
The Compostable by Design Platform The Compostable by Design Platform is a European collaborations of companies born in 2023. The companies of the collaboration are characterized by the effort into creating a circular economy with the reuse of biowaste into the agriculture industry. Its overall aim is to create a harmonized scientific and technical framework that supports circular pathways for compostable products and strengthens biological circularity in Europe. BIOPAP collaborates with the Compostable by Design Platform starting from August 2024. Their collaboration is based on the same idea that compostable products, when properly designed and managed, play a key role in achieving a circular economy by increasing biowaste collection and reducing contamination of organic waste streams. The Platform's activities are organized into four main workstreams: developing a harmonized compostability evaluation protocol, establishing design guidelines for compostable packaging, improving collection and recycling systems, and promoting innovation in technologies for compostable materials. OPAL Catering GmbH BIOPAP is providing to OPAL Catering GmbH its biodegradable trays to support the sustainable concept of "Genius Meal" from the German hospital catering company. With this collaboration patients' daily meals are distributed on the same tray, reducing environmental impact.
Smart Set Oy Smart Set Oy is the representative of BIOPAP in Finland. The collaboration between the two companies is driven by their common mission of sustainability. The Finnish company operates in the takeaway packaging market and it uses ecological products supplied BIOPAP.
HOFMANNs BIOPAP supplies HOFMANN with its organic, biodegradable trays. HOFMANNs it's a German catering company for schools, industries and erderly houses. This collaboration between the italian ecologic industry and HOFMANNs has started in 2019.