Alter Eco (alterecofoods.com), pioneer of globally crafted foods with full-circle sustainability,  announced the launch of its groundbreaking compostable stand-up quinoa pouches designed to decompose in backyards and compost bins, leaving behind no trace for a waste-free earth. Produced to help reduce the more than 17 percent of plastic landfill materials in the United States, the innovative and patent-pending compostable pouches are made from birch and eucalyptus wood pulp, non-GMO corn and printed with non-toxic ink, and are the first non-GMO and plant-based pouches available nationwide. The new pouches replace previous packaging for the brand’s popular organic Royal heirloom quinoa products, including Rainbow, Pearl, Red, and Black.

Sustainability is the core of our business, and as a leader in the space we’ve worked tirelessly to pioneer the first non-GMO backyard compostable pouch that will truly revolutionize the food industry,” said Mathieu Senard, co-founder and co-CEO of Alter Eco. “We’re thrilled to be at the forefront of eco-friendly packaging, having already launched our line of compostable truffle wrappers in 2013, and are looking forward to our ultimate goal of working towards 100 percent compostable packaging across all product lines. We’re hopeful that this necessary, good-for-the-planet innovation will encourage other brands to follow suit.”

The move was made following growing consumer demand for stand-up pouches, which reached 17 billion pouches in 2013 and is projected to reach 24 billion pouches by 2018. Current pouches on the market are made with multiple layers of plastic that are not recyclable.

An eco-friendly alternative for material disposal in backyard compost or curbside community organics collection programs, Alter Eco’s compostable packaging decomposes in approximately twelve weeks.

Hand-cultivated on small family farms in the Bolivia Altiplano, Alter Eco’s organic Royal heirloom quinoa is the first Fair Trade Certified quinoa on the market since 2004. Like all Alter Eco products, the quinoa is USDA Organic, Fair Trade Certified, Carbon Neutral Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, Certified Gluten-Free and Kosher. Alter Eco organic Royal heirloom quinoa (SRP $6.49-7.49/12 oz. pouch) is available nationwide at major natural food retailers.