Following a pilot phase, Lidl and Kaufland are now introducing Silphie packaging for fruit and vegetables. The paper packaging based on the Silphie plant was developed by the Schwarz Group's environmental division.
The environmental division of the Schwarz Group, PreZerodevelops new products with its OutNature brand, Sustainable fibre and paper products for packaging solutions in retail and industry. Following a successful pilot phase, the two retail divisions Lidl and Kaufland are now gradually introducing the innovative paper packaging based on the Silphie plant in the fruit and vegetable sector - starting with organic cress.
The organic cress in the Silphie packaging will initially be available from Lidl in southern Germany and will soon be available from Kaufland in all shops throughout Germany. So that launches a series of further product changesOrganic tomatoes, apples and mushrooms, for example, will soon follow at Kaufland, and expansion to other national companies is planned. In the coming months, Kaufland Germany will also be offering smoked and stremel salmon from its own K-Bio brand in the new packaging.
Special features of the Silphie packaging
Silphie paper is particularly resource-efficient and can be used in a variety of ways in the food and non-food sectors. With a share of at least 35 percent, the fibres of the energy plant form the basis for the new type of packaging. The Regional cultivation of silphia reduces transport distances and the associated CO2 emissions. In addition, little water and energy is used in the preparation process and the fibres are obtained without the use of chemicals.
The robust, perennial energy plant has so far been used exclusively for the production of biogas. OutNature has succeeded in Separate plant fibres using a biothermal process prior to bioenergy production. The PreZero brand utilises the silphia plant as a new raw material produced in Germany for the paper and packaging industry.
At the end of 2020, OutNature received the German Packaging Award in the "New Material" category for the idea of producing sustainable packaging from Silphie fibres. This was followed at the beginning of 2021 by the prestigious WorldStar Award from the World Packaging Organisation (WPO) in the "Packaging Materials & Components" category.
Barrier properties against water and grease planned
Through further research, the Silphie paper Additional barrier properties, for example against water or grease, are obtained. The new type of paper could therefore become a potential replacement product for plastic packaging in the future and thus contribute to the vision of the international Group-wide REset Plastic strategy "Less plastic - closed loops".
Source: Schwarz Group
