THE need to cut back on our use of plastic has never been more topical which is why two Herefordshire farmers have launched a new range of crisps using 100 percent compostable packets.

The new range called Two Farmers is the brainchild of south Herefordshire farmers Mark Green and Sean Mason.

Their crisp packets will break down to nothing in just 26 weeks in a home composting bin, which as far as they know, is the first of its kind for crisps in the UK. This is in stark contrast to other crisp packets which fuel the plastic waste littering the streets and seas

Sean said: “As farmers living and working in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside we have seen firsthand the impact plastic waste can have on the environment.

“We are also crisp lovers and our greatest challenge has been to make great tasting crisps and find a way to bring them to market without compromising on our principles.”

Mark and Sean, both 48, are long-time friends and make the crisps at Little Pengethley Farm. Mark is a second generation potato farmer and Sean is a farmer and potato merchant.

This is the first time they have grown crisping potatoes in a bid to diversify. The hand-cooked crisps celebrate local ingredients.

Sean said: “We have also been keen to source as many of the ingredients from our own farm as we can, or from local suppliers.

“Even the salt we use in our Lightly Salted variety is sourced from neighbouring Worcestershire, where Droitwich Salt harvest their natural salt springs using renewable energy.”

The range of crisps include four options: Hereford Bullshot, seasoned with the flavour of Hereford Beef, Salt and Two Farmers Cider Vinegar, flavoured with their own cider vinegar made from apples grown in their Herefordshire orchards, Lightly Salted, and Hereford Hop Cheese and Onion, seasoned with Hereford Hop cheese made by cheesemakers Charles Martell & Sons and onions grown on Two Farmers’ Herefordshire farm.

The founders have high aspirations for this challenger brand and with public sentiment embracing the reduction of plastic in everyday uses.,Two Farmers hopes to provide a sustainable crisp packet option that consumers will welcome.

The packets are made by a British company and are made from Eucalyptus pulp from sustainable sources - even the ink is compostable.

The crisps launched last week and they have already been deluged with enquiries from local retailers.

Webbs of Wychbold near Droitwich was the first national retailer to sell them last Monday.

To find out where the crisps may be stocked in the area follow twofarmerscrisps on Instagram, @TwoFarmersCrisps on Facebook and @TwoFarmersHfd on Twitter.