grass

Ranpak has launched a recyclable paper void fill made from grass and recycled paper fibres.

According to the company, the benefits of this product include reduced water consumed in the manufacturing process compared to other kraft paper void fill products, as well as the diversification of renewable fibre sources that can help contribute to the circularity of secondary packaging materials.

Omar Asali, Chairman and CEO of Ranpak, comments: “We are thrilled to add GrasiKraft paper to our product offering. As our first commercially available paper material that uses grass as a fibre source, this milestone is an important step as Ranpak continues to evaluate the most sustainable materials possible.

“We believe that single-use packaging should be recyclable and come from renewable resources to protect our world for future generations, and the renewable qualities of grass as a material make it a perfect fit.”

GrasiKraft came about as the result of a growing partnership between Ranpak and Creapaper to explore the use of grass as an alternative fibre source for papermaking.

The R&D process included comprehensive testing to produce a paper dunnage material that is strong enough to remain compatible with Ranpak’s existing converters while incorporating grass fibres.

Grass is a highly renewable resource, able to be harvested multiple times per year. GrasiKraft utilizes fibres from the margin areas of agricultural land, in a bid to help minimize the travel distances from sourcing to processing while also maximizing the productive output of these areas.

Grass can also be sourced from rewetted moorlands, with the aim of helping to preserve valuable biodiverse habitats within Central Europe.

Stéphane Doerane, Logistic Services Manager at pharmaceutical distributor Multipharma, says: “We’ve been using GrasiKraft in our packaging now for a few months and it not only meets our performance standards but has a softer feel which has led to positive customer feedback.”

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