UK-based Enviro-Point has agreed a purchase order with London Gatwick Airport to supply its security areas with sustainable security tamper-evident bags (STEBs).

Enviro-Point CEO Graeme Stewart signed the PO with the airport in late May, with the bags expected to be available at the North and South Terminals around August, TRBusiness can report.

Graeme Stewart shared the news of the PO signing with delegates at the ‘Green Shoots Exchange’ session today (21 June) as part of this week’s action-packed TR Consumer Forum (21-23 June) held in Vienna, Austria.

As revealed by TRBusiness, Enviro-Point’s STEBs solution earned approval from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) last year.

A catalyst for change

“I’m absolutely delighted to be able to confirm the PO and supply agreement of our Biotransformation STEB’s with London Gatwick Airport,” Stewart told TRBusiness.

“For a number of years now I have been pushing for environmental change within our industry and I am incredibly proud that such a prestigious airport has chosen to take this positive step and be the first airport in the world to utilise our Biotransformation STEBs. I hope this act will encourage other airports and duty free retailers to make this necessary change.”

The bags use Polymateria’s bio-transformation technology, which allows the plastic to bio-transform and bio-assimilate within two to three years of production through a solution that uses a ‘drop-in’ masterbatch tailored to the resin’s footprint.

The company is also in active discussions with operators globally to secure orders for its STEBs solution.

“There is two ways to try to remove the cost to the duty free operator,” explained Stewart. “We charge for carrier bags now and a STEB is, in essence, a carrier bag. If you charge for it, you cover the cost of the STEBs and recoup your previous capex on unsustainable versions. There is a commercial ‘win’ and sustainable ‘win’.”

An alternative, Stewart says, is advertising on the STEBs – permitted under ICAO rules – though there are space restrictions and the bags must be transparent.

Stay close to TRBusiness for more from the TR Consumer Forum, which is taking place on 21-23 June at the Vienna AirportCity Space, Austria.