Earthcycle Packaging
Earthcycle Packaging (CKF Inc.) is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of home-compostable moulded pulp, rPET, and foam packaging serving fresh-produce growers, grocery retailers, and food-service operators across North America and selected European and Latin American markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1933
- HeadquartersVancouver, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Earthcycle Packaging does
CKF Inc. (operating brand: Earthcycle Packaging) is a Nova Scotia-headquartered, privately held manufacturer of sustainable packaging solutions founded in 1933 and owned by Scotia Investments Ltd. The company operates five manufacturing plants in Canada (Hantsport NS, Langley BC, Rexdale ON) and two in the United States (Clinton IA, El Paso TX), producing moulded pulp, rPET, and foam packaging across more than 1,000 SKUs. Earthcycle, launched in 2005, is the flagship home-compostable, FSC-certified (FSC C145472) moulded pulp line serving fresh-produce growers and packers, grocery retailers, and food-service operators; CKF also owns the Royal Chinet, SavaDay, Packright, and MFT-CKF sub-brands serving retail tableware, rPET produce trays, and industrial protective packaging.
The underlying technology centres on moulded pulp fibre thermoforming and in-house rPET extrusion (Rexdale facility, operational December 2022), with proprietary features including TerraCoat dust mitigation, FSC-certified renewable substrates, paper sleeve solutions developed with JASA Packaging Solutions, and Lid Mates recyclable PET lids designed to mate with Earthcycle punnets. The EC 652 top-seal blueberry punnet demonstrates performance parity with PET at 80% less plastic and has been validated in retail trials achieving pack-speed equivalence on automated lines. CKF is the largest global thermoformed pulp manufacturer for the fresh produce market and has expanded into European and Latin/South American markets through trade-show channels (Fruit Logistica, CPMA, Fruit Attraction).
CKF generates revenue through one-time sales of packaging products and custom packaging design services across moulded pulp, rPET, and foam substrates, with quote-based pricing handled through a direct sales team. The go-to-market is direct B2B to enterprise growers, packers, retailers (including Costco Canada, Townsend Farms, The Fruitist), and food-service operators, supported by partnerships with channel suppliers like Belmark Inc. (top-seal film) and design firms like PackCo S.L. (Spain). Major recent strategic moves include the 2022 acquisitions of Packright Manufacturing and Molded Fiber Technologies, a $10 million capital investment in rPET extrusion and west-coast Earthcycle production, and the introduction of new Earthcycle product lines (Paper Sleeves, EC 652) validated through Canadian retail trials.
Earthcycle Packaging firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Earthcycle Packaging
- Legal name
- CKF Inc.
- Website
- https://ckfinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1933
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Earthcycle Packaging (CKF Inc.) is a privately held Canadian manufacturer of home-compostable moulded pulp, rPET, and foam packaging serving fresh-produce growers, grocery retailers, and food-service operators across North America and selected European and Latin American markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Earthcycle Packaging industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Food Packaging
- NAICS
- Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Papers & Allied Products (2600), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables) (IMAMALAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Foodservice/To-Go Packaging (Cups, Clamshells, Cutlery) (IMALAHAM), Biodegradable Packaging Materials (films, trays, foams) (IMAEAOAB)
Keywords
Where Earthcycle Packaging is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Vancouver
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Earthcycle Packaging business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Packaging Products Sales: CKF generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of packaging products including Earthcycle moulded pulp, rPET trays, foam products, and custom packaging solutions to food service, retail, and agricultural sectors. The company sells over 1,000 SKUs across multiple product lines.
- Custom Packaging Design: Revenue generated from designing and manufacturing custom packaging solutions with branding, printing, labels, and embossing options. Available in pulp, foam, and rPET substrates.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard packaging products available across multiple material types (moulded pulp, rPET, foam) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
Earthcycle Packaging product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Earthcycle Packaging (CKF Inc.) manufactures and sells sustainable packaging made from moulded pulp, recycled PET (rPET), and foam substrates. The flagship Earthcycle line offers certified home compostable, FSC-certified, and recyclable packaging for fresh produce (berries, apples, kiwis, avocados, herbs), while Packright by CKF supplies rPET trays for produce, bakery, deli, and confectionery. The portfolio also includes foam meat trays, egg cartons, food service tableware (Royal Chinet, SavaDay), and MFT-CKF moulded-fibre protective packaging for consumer goods and industrial products.
Product overview
Earthcycle Packaging (CKF Inc.) offers a diversified portfolio of sustainable packaging solutions organized into three main categories: Packaging (Earthcycle home compostable moulded pulp, Packright rPET products, foam trays, egg cartons, pulp produce packaging, and herb trays), Retail (Royal Chinet and SavaDay disposable tableware brands), and Food Service (tableware, cup carriers, pie plates, chip trays, cone servers, bakery & deli products, and foam hinged lids). The company also operates MFT-CKF for protective packaging and provides custom packaging design services. Earthcycle, launched in 2005, is the flagship sustainable brand certified home compostable (EN 13432), FSC-certified, and recyclable. Packright (acquired 2022) expands rPET capabilities, while MFT-CKF provides industrial protective packaging from recycled materials. The portfolio spans three material substrates: moulded pulp, rPET/PET, and foam, manufactured across multiple North American facilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Earthcycle: Certified home compostable, recyclable and renewable packaging solution for fresh produce, grocery retail and food service sectors. Launched in 2005.
- Royal Chinet
- SavaDay
- Packright by CKF
- MFT-CKF
- Packright Manufacturing Ltd.
Products and services
- Earthcycle Moulded Pulp Packaging Certified home compostable (EN 13432), FSC-certified (FSC C145472) moulded pulp packaging for fresh fruit and vegetable markets, reducing plastic usage by up to 96% and extending shelf life by up to 20%.
- Packright by CKF rPET Packaging Thermoformed recycled PET (rPET) packaging products for produce, bakery, deli, and confectionary needs, manufactured at the Langley, BC Packright facility and supported by CKF's in-house rPET extrusion in Rexdale, ON.
- rPET Meat and Produce Trays Strong, durable rPET produce trays highly resistant to cracking, tearing, or shattering with superior nesting properties for protection of meat and produce items.
- Foam Meat Trays Foam trays providing optimal presentation and protection for packaged meat and produce items, available in various sizes with optional absorption padding levels.
- Egg Cartons Moulded fibre egg cartons with a rough finish that provide effective protection and a sustainable packaging alternative for eggs.
- Pulp Produce Packaging Moulded fibre produce packaging including Produce Pak, Sho-Pak, and Berry containers that protect fruit and vegetables from damage with a natural appearance.
- Herb Trays Moulded fibre herb trays that maintain air circulation for added freshness, available in 0.75 oz, 1 oz, and 2 oz sizes.
- Royal Chinet Disposable Tableware Iconic heritage brand of disposable plates and bowls proudly manufactured and sold exclusively in Canada for 55 years, offering elegant and coordinated table service.
- SavaDay Earth-Friendly Tableware Earth-friendly disposable tableware products with a natural compostable appearance that encourages consumers to use compost bins. Made from plants, certified compostable and microwaveable.
- Food Service Tableware Disposable table service products including plates and bowls from the Royal Chinet and SavaDay brands, available in bulk packaging format for food service operators.
- Cup Carriers Rough-finish moulded fibre 4-cup carriers providing a convenient sustainable solution for drink carrying needs in food service.
- Pie Plates Moulded fibre pie plates in various sizes offering premium presentation and durability for baked goods.
- Chip Trays Moulded fibre chip trays with balanced size and shape, ready to use straight from packaging.
- Cone Servers Easy-to-use moulded fibre cone servers for ice cream, offering a high quality and user-friendly serving experience.
Quantifiable outcome
- 80% less plastic compared to traditional PET packaging
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Earthcycle Packaging
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Earthcycle Packaging technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Earthcycle Packaging partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Belmark Inc.coreBelmark provided specially designed top seal film for the Earthcycle blueberry packaging trial with Costco Canada. The film is universally compatible with both moulded pulp and recycled PET trays while providing impactful printed graphics for brand promotion.
- The FruitistcoreJoint venture between Agrovision Corp. and Berries Paradise supplying blueberries for the Canadian retail trial with Earthcycle packaging at Costco Canada. Successfully supplied product that met packaging performance targets and achieved positive consumer engagement.
- Packright Manufacturing Ltd.coreAcquired in November 2022, Packright is a family owned manufacturer of clear and coloured thermoformed rPET packaging established in 2003 in Langley, BC. Now a wholly owned subsidiary operating under the Packright brand name, adding design expertise and established customer base to CKF's rPET operations.
- MFT-CKF (formerly Molded Fiber Technologies Inc.)coreAcquired by Scotia Investments and CKF in 2022 from UFP Technologies. MFT-CKF designs, manufactures, and distributes environmentally responsible moulded pulp protective packaging solutions for consumer goods, electronics, and industrial products from plants in Clinton, IA and El Paso, TX.
- JASA Packaging SolutionscoreJASA Packaging Solutions, a leader in automated sleeving solutions, collaborated with CKF to design automated sleeving systems for Earthcycle packaging. JASA provided expertise in designing for purpose and concept testing of paper sleeves for fresh produce packaging applications.
- PackCo S.L.minorPackaging design and consultancy firm in Valencia, Spain developing sleeved solutions for Earthcycle products. Actively engaged in creating differentiated produce packaging for clients like Ballberry in European markets.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Earthcycle Packaging competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Huhtamaki: Global foodservice and consumer goods packaging manufacturer with a significant molded fiber and paper-based packaging portfolio serving fresh produce and foodservice customers. Directly comparable to CKF's Earthcycle and foodservice lines, with broader global scale.
- Eco-Products (Novolex): Specialist in compostable foodservice and packaging products made from molded fiber, PLA, and other bio-based materials. Competes head-to-head with Earthcycle and SavaDay lines in the compostable foodservice and produce-packaging categories.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American foodservice and food merchandising packaging producer with both paper-based and foam/rPET product lines serving grocery, produce, and foodservice operators. Closely matches CKF's substrate mix and customer base across Canada and the US.
Broad incumbents
- Graphic Packaging: Large paperboard packaging manufacturer with significant sustainable-packaging initiatives including molded fiber and recyclable formats for food and consumer goods. Overlaps with CKF's paperboard and produce-packaging categories at a much larger scale.
- Smurfit Kappa: Largest European-listed paper-based packaging company with deep molded-fiber, paperboard, and sustainable-packaging operations across multiple end markets. Comparable on substrate technology and ESG-led product positioning, though primarily Europe-weighted.
- Sealed Air: Global packaging company best known for protective packaging (Bubble Wrap, Cryovac) with growing sustainable-packaging lines including paper-based and molded-fiber formats for fresh food. Comparable to MFT-CKF in protective packaging and to Earthcycle in fresh food.
- Westrock (now Smurfit Westrock): Combined paper and packaging giant with paperboard, containerboard, and consumer packaging operations including sustainable fiber-based formats. Adjacent competitor on paper-based substrates and protective molded fiber, though with primarily US-heavy operations.
- Sonoco Products: Diversified global packaging manufacturer with a sizable paperboard, rigid paper container, and sustainable-packaging portfolio serving consumer goods and food customers. Overlaps with CKF on molded-fiber and rPET packaging but operates across a much broader packaging set.
- Amcor: Global packaging giant with extensive rigid and flexible plastic packaging, including rPET/PET trays and punnets for produce and protein. Comparable to Packright and CKF's rPET operations, with a broader product portfolio and global customer reach.
Emerging players
- World Centric: Certified B Corporation producing compostable foodservice tableware, cups, and containers from molded fiber and bio-resins. Direct competitor in the compostable foodservice category where SavaDay competes, with stronger US foodservice distribution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Earthcycle Packaging social profiles
Digital presenceEarthcycle Packaging compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance9 records
Earthcycle Packaging financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Earthcycle Packaging leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Earthcycle Packaging subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Earthcycle Packaging funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Earthcycle Packaging M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Earthcycle Packaging
What does Earthcycle Packaging do?
Earthcycle Packaging (CKF Inc.) manufactures and sells sustainable packaging made from moulded pulp, recycled PET (rPET), and foam substrates. The flagship Earthcycle line offers certified home compostable, FSC-certified, and recyclable packaging for fresh produce (berries, apples, kiwis, avocados, herbs), while Packright by CKF supplies rPET trays for produce, bakery, deli, and confectionery. The portfolio also includes foam meat trays, egg cartons, food service tableware (Royal Chinet, SavaDay), and MFT-CKF moulded-fibre protective packaging for consumer goods and industrial products.
Is Earthcycle Packaging a public or private company?
Earthcycle Packaging is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Earthcycle Packaging founded?
Earthcycle Packaging was founded in 1933. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Earthcycle Packaging based?
Earthcycle Packaging is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Earthcycle Packaging make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Packaging Products Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Packaging Design.
Who are Earthcycle Packaging's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Huhtamaki, Eco-Products (Novolex) and Pactiv Evergreen. Broad incumbents are Graphic Packaging, Smurfit Kappa, Sealed Air, Westrock (now Smurfit Westrock), Sonoco Products and Amcor. World Centric is listed as an emerging player.
Does Earthcycle Packaging have an API?
No public API is recorded for Earthcycle Packaging.
What industry is Earthcycle Packaging in?
Earthcycle Packaging's product category is Sustainable Food Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMALAI, Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables), with a secondary code of IMALAMAB, Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films). Its NAICS code is 322219 and its SIC code is 2650.