Constantia Flexibles, a specialist in flexible packaging, says it is testing a solution for sustainable food packaging. Paper made from the renewable raw material grass is produced without bleaching or other chemical treatments and with very low water consumption. The packaging replaces plastic and can be returned to the recycling cycle via conventional paper recycling.
„We are constantly working on developing environmentally friendly packaging. With grass, we use a resource that grows back and is recyclable,“ explains Stefan Grote, Head of the Constantia Flexibles Food Division. According to our tests, this innovation can also be used as packaging in various ways in the demanding food segment, particularly in the chocolate sector.“
Natural grass paper
Grass paper consists of 40 % sun-dried grass and 60 % FSC-certified pulp, i.e. 100 % renewable, recyclable and naturally grown raw materials. The Natural grass paper is refined by Constantia Flexibles into packaging material using a barrier in order to meet the specific requirements for packaging - such as flavour impermeability. The aim here is to Naturalness of the material to receive.
The material is in tune with the times in many respects and is therefore deliberately different from other packaging materials: „Firstly, there is the visual and tactile experience. This also opens up numerous opportunities for our customers in the area of marketing for a Contemporary positioning“, explains Grote. Even with existing machines, the usual productivity would be achieved with natural grass paper. The material also proves to be a cost-effective alternative to plastic materials. „A really promising and forward-looking material,“ says Grote.
