Wageningen University & Research are making paper from grass, according to its website.
The article states that "Wageningen researchers are turning grass from verges and nature areas into the raw material for paper and cardboard. That could give a boost to the local economy. This saves trees in Scandinavia as well as removing the need to transport pulp or paper to the Netherlands."
The article goes on to state "The raw grass is deposited in a cage and taken to a specially developed digester where a culture of microorganisms is sprayed on from a shower head. The bacteria convert the sugars into biogas, which we can use for refining the grass further, explains Wevers.
The grass then undergoes a series of additional treatments, such as washing, an alkaline bath, and drying and cutting in a screw press and a second-hand mincer. The researcher shows the final result: snippets of fibrous material that is clean and devoid of sand grains. These smaller fibres link together nicely during the paper-making process, says Wevers."
According to an article from Packaging Europe, it states that Mars Wrigley and Tesco are trialing a new display made from waste cocoa bean shells and recycled paper.
The article states that "Developed in collaboration with Medoola and Kolorcraft through TMS, the Cocoa Cardboard corrugated card fibre is also said to reduce land usage by 94% and water usage by 59%, according to a full life cycle assessment (LCA). Furthermore, it claims to be fully recyclable via standard recycling streams."
We'll keep you apprised of further developments.
Helen Roush is Executive Vice President of Paperitalo Publications.
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