What are the pros and cons of cellulose-based plant-based capsule closures for bottle sealing, and what are the regulatory and retail listing implications?

Cellulose-based plant closures are a plastic-free, compostable sealing option, but they come with handling challenges and significant retail compliance risks.

**Suppliers and product specifics:** - **Viscose** — the main UK supplier mentioned. They produce cellulose capsules made from wood pulp fibres that are plastic-free and compostable (decompose in soil within four months). They're supplied "moist" in bulk containers (described as "commercial-sized baked bean tins"). Several members have trialled these successfully.

**How they work:** - Shrink naturally at room temperature as they dry, or you can use a heater to speed up the process - Require careful handling — "not the easiest to handle" but deliver good results when managed properly

**Critical retail compliance issue:** - **Major Tesco red-list problem:** These capsules are on Tesco's packaging red list (their exclusion list for suppliers wanting listings). Tesco flags them as a contamination risk to recycling waste streams because they are neither traditional plastic nor certified compostable in their systems. This is a significant barrier if Tesco listing is a business goal. - Members who discovered PLA versions were also red-listed moved to rPET alternatives from Viscose instead

**Key takeaway:** Cellulose closures work well operationally but check Tesco's current packaging requirements (2024) before committing if retail distribution is planned.