# 183 - Compostable Packaging with Jason Friday from Bar U Eat

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2023-03-10
- Length: 27m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/183-compostable-packaging-with-jason

## Summary

Jason Friday, co-founder of Bar U Eat, explains how his company became the first to use BPI-certified industrially compostable packaging for granola bars. He details the transition from ineffective craft pouches to plant-based films derived from FSC-certified wood pulp and corn, which required building an in-house manufacturing facility to handle the slower sealing speeds. Friday discusses the trade-offs of this approach, including an 80 bars-per-minute production rate and a 9-month shelf life, while emphasizing the environmental benefits of non-toxic breakdown compared to traditional plastics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=0) Introduction: Adam Peak and Jason Friday
- [2:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=148) Bar U Eat Origin Story and Company Values
- [7:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=432) Growth Trajectory and Retail Distribution
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=712) Packaging Evolution: From Craft Pouches to Compostable Film
- [14:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=871) In-House Manufacturing and Machinery Constraints
- [16:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=989) BPI Certification and Industrial vs. Home Composting
- [21:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2023-03-10-183-compostable-packaging-with-jason-friday-from-bar-u-eat#t=1307) Shelf Life Challenges and Barrier Properties

## Topics

- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Bar U Eat (company)
- BPI (other)
- Spark Packaging (company)
- Natural Grocers (company)
- Nestle (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Re-imagining the Future of Packaging with Insiya Jafferjee, Co-founder & CEO at Shellworks](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2022-09-29-re-imagining-the-future-of-packaging-with-insiya-jafferjee-co-founder-ceo-at-she) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Founder Feature: Yaniv Simpson of The Conscious Bar](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-01-30-founder-feature-yaniv-simpson-of-the-conscious-bar) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Woo Pailet of LOO](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-11-15-founder-feature-woo-pailet-of-loo) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Alex Blum: $1200 Houses, Plant-based Plastics, Political Activism, and BioFi | Hard Tech Podcast #11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-08-20-alex-blum-1200-houses-plant-based-plastics-political-activism-and-biofi-hard-tec) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [Ep. 8: Build a Food Business with Teeth - Chloe Sorvino, Forbes Magazine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2020-08-13-ep-8-build-a-food-business-with-teeth-chloe-sorvino-forbes-magazine) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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