The new Scheufelen Grass Paper range offers a dramatic reduction in water use and impressive energy savings through the introduction of up to 50% fresh fibre material made of sun dried grass.
The revolutionary feature here is the production of an economical fresh fibre pulp with the least possible environmental impact. Industrial process water requirements are dramatically reduced to less than 1 litre per ton grass fibre pulp, compared to a few thousand litres per ton wood fibre pulp, massive energy savings (136 kw/h per ton fresh fibre material compared of up to 6000 kw/h per ton wood fibre pulp) and completely dispensing with the use of any process chemicals.
“Our biggest challenge when manufacturing the paper was to make it printable. Scheufelen manufactures high quality coated papers. Thanks to our technological know-how we were able to find an optimal solution together with our R&D team. Now we are able to offer good printability. The paper is suitable both for offset and flexo printing, and good results were also achieved with web offset,” Horst Lamparter, sales and marketing manager at Scheufelen, tells Packaging Europe.
The new material is produced locally in the Bio Sphere Region Schwäbische Alb from perennial grass plants. It is processed in an integrated production site in the paper factory in Lenningen.
This significantly reduces the environmental impact of products packaged with grass paper, reinforces the ecological advantages of paper packaging and allows a unique marketing approach.
Additionally, fresh fibre packaging solutions based on grass paper already fulfil all requirements which will arise from the planned German mineral oil regulation for packaging material for improved consumer protection. Suitability of material for food packaging has been certified by ISEGA, plus the material is recyclable, compostable and FSC-Mix certified (FSC® C009951).
The expertise of the Scheufelen Team in the development of unique printing surfaces guarantees its suitability not only for offset printing, but also other printing methods.
Grass paper is suitable for the production of container board, liners and folding box containers, as well as for graphical applications. Multiple product examples have already been developed under a cooperation between Scheufelen and the Hochschule für Medien, Stuttgart, Germany by a group of master students in the new Packaging Campus Lenningen, showing huge potential for diverse market segments.
“The packaging material is currently tested by major German retailer REWE for trays for organic apples. These packs were created in cooperation with Creapapier and Rondo,” Mr. Lamparter says.
Grass paper is distributed by Scheufelen in different qualities under the brand names greenliner for container board and liner, Scheufelen grass paper for graphical applications as well as phoenogras in an exclusive combination of grass paper with the high white fresh fibre board phoenolux for unique high-end packaging solutions.
At present greenliner is available in grammages ranging from 80, 90, 105, 130 to 200 gsm, Scheufelen graspapier in 95 and 130 gsm and phoenogras in 360 gsm.
“The grass paper was presented at trade shows in New York and Milan, and received a Green Award at Luxe Pack in New York. Our long term aim is to distribute the paper in Europe as well as the US and Asia,” Mr. Lamparter concludes.
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