Turning Waste into Value: Cartons Made from Agricultural Fibers
Cartons made from agricultural fibres such as rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and tomato plant residues are emerging as sustainable alternatives to virgin wood pulp. They are biodegradable, recyclable multiple times, and certified fit for direct food contact. Projects in Thailand, Germany and Slovenia show commercial feasibility for food and fresh produce packaging. Grass-cardboard variants significantly cut CO₂ and water use compared to virgin board. Seasonal variability remains a challenge, but patented pulping processes are improving fibre consistency.