In Brazil they are looking to utilize bagasse, or sugar cane waste for biodegradable packaging. Bagasse is currently burned by farmers but soon this practice will be banned.
Three firms (Viveiro Flora Brasil, Lótus Soluções Ambientais, Floema Nutrição Vegetal and the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) are involved with this research. They hope testing will be completed in 2009 and the project can then move into commercial production, starting with planting containers (which would be buried with the plants, and naturally decompose in the soil), supermarket carry bags and disposable cups.
Of course these products are already available elsewhere so no need to wait. Buy these sugarcane bio-packaging products here.
October 3, 2008 at 7:33 am |
Bagasse is used to make the paper of the magazine of the Australian Conservation Foundation. I think they’ve been using this paper for a number of years.
October 3, 2008 at 12:44 pm |
That’s good to hear and it will be even better if this material is used more widely with packaging.
October 9, 2008 at 3:33 am |
China is has a big market for sugar cane bagasse packaging…They have the technology to make the sugar cane pulp which is then used in the production of containers for food. Here is one company that manufacture and supplies biodegradable bagasse packaging: http://www.greener.com.hk/products/list/food
October 9, 2008 at 9:19 am |
Thanks Anton, that’s useful.