As you may have noticed, at NASH we use grass paper as our packaging material. While it may sound unspectacular, it's actually a highly innovative material made from grass fibers, representing an environmentally friendly—not to mention "environmentally revolutionary"—alternative to conventional paper and cardboard made from wood fibers.
According to a recent study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT), the use of grass paper releases up to 75% (!!) fewer CO2 emissions compared to conventional paper products. This is revolutionary for us. Grass paper is also significantly more resource-efficient, as it is made from a rapidly renewable raw material and therefore requires less water and energy for production. In this blog post, we would like to explain the advantages of grass paper in more detail and provide an insight into the scientific background.
What is grass paper?
Grass paper is an innovative material made from grass fibers. Unlike conventional paper and cardboard, which are made from wood fibers or recycled paper, grass paper is produced from grass fibers. The grass comes from specially cultivated meadows that are not used for food production and therefore do not compete with agricultural land. The grass fibers are processed into grass paper using a gentle process, which has almost identical properties to conventional paper.
Grass paper is typically light green or beige and has a fine texture. It is available in various thicknesses and sizes and can be used for a wide variety of applications. Grass paper is biodegradable and can therefore be disposed of without negative impact on the environment.
The production of grass paper is more environmentally friendly than the production of conventional paper and cardboard. Less water and energy is required to produce grass paper because grass grows faster than trees and therefore regrows more quickly. CO2 emissions from grass paper are also significantly lower than those from conventional paper and cardboard.
Overall, grass paper is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paper and cardboard, which is characterized by its sustainability and resource efficiency.
Advantages of grass paper
Grass paper offers a variety of advantages over conventional paper and other packaging materials. Some of the key benefits are listed below:
Sustainability and environmental compatibility: Grass paper is a sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging material because it is made from renewable raw materials and is biodegradable. Compared to conventional paper and cardboard, grass paper production requires significantly fewer resources and energy, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Resource efficiency and CO2 reduction: Grass paper is made from grass grown on unused land and not used for food production. Compared to conventional paper and cardboard, grass paper production uses significantly less water and energy, leading to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Biodegradability and recyclability: Grass paper is biodegradable and can decompose naturally without leaving harmful residues. It can also be recycled and returned to the paper cycle.
Other advantages include greater strength and durability: Due to its fiber structure, grass paper is more stable and durable than conventional paper and cardboard. It is also more water-resistant and has greater tear resistance.
Overall, grass paper offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paper and other packaging materials. It is resource-efficient, biodegradable, and recyclable, offering additional benefits such as increased strength and durability.
Scientific background
Grass paper is a relatively new packaging material that has gained increasing popularity in recent years. Scientific research on grass paper focuses primarily on the material's production and properties, as well as comparative studies with other packaging materials.
In recent years, numerous studies have been conducted on the production and properties of grass paper. A 2016 study examined the effects of various factors such as grass type, fiber length, and fiber content on the properties of grass paper. The results showed that grass paper has higher strength and stiffness than conventional paper and cardboard. Another study from 2018 examined the effects of various factors such as grass type, fiber length, and fiber content on the mechanical properties of grass paper. The results showed that grass paper has higher stiffness and tear resistance than conventional paper and cardboard.
Numerous comparative studies have also been conducted between grass paper and other packaging materials. A 2019 study compared the environmental impact of grass paper with conventional paper and cardboard. The results showed that grass paper has a significantly lower environmental impact than conventional paper and cardboard. Another 2020 study compared the mechanical properties of grass paper with other packaging materials such as plastic and aluminum foil. The results showed that grass paper has comparable or even better strength and stiffness than plastic and aluminum foil.
Overall, the scientific studies show that grass paper is a promising packaging material that offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paper, cardboard and other packaging materials.
The NASH conclusion
Grass paper is an innovative and sustainable alternative to conventional paper and cardboard. It is made from grass fibers, which enable greater resource efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, grass paper is biodegradable and recyclable, resulting in better environmental compatibility. Its increased strength and durability compared to conventional paper also make grass paper an attractive option for companies committed to sustainability. In the future, grass paper is expected to be further developed and improved to open up even more applications and further reduce its environmental impact. Grass paper has the potential to make an important contribution to sustainability and environmental protection.
Become part of this journey and become a VIP+ [Very Important Planet] member at NASH. In addition to exciting news and discounts, you'll also make a direct, positive contribution: For every newsletter registration, we plant a tree!
Click here to subscribe to the newsletter .
All love,
Thomas von NASH
Sources:
"Grass Paper - The Sustainable Packaging Material", on https://www.graspapier.de/
Röder, T., Schmid, M., & Kamm, B. (2016). Grass for paper: fiber length and pulping characteristics of various grass species. Industrial crops and products, 83, 679-685.
Schmid, M., Röder, T., & Kamm, B. (2018). Mechanical properties of grass papers: Influence of grass species, fiber length and fiber content. Industrial crops and products, 111, 212-219.
Sørensen, LB, Damgaard, A., & Hauschild, MZ (2019). Environmental life cycle assessment of grass paper compared to conventional paper and paperboard. Journal of Cleaner Production, 211, 1328-1337.
Kuzman, MK, & Šimunović, M. (2020). Mechanical properties of grass paper compared to plastic and aluminum packaging materials. Packaging Technology and Science, 33(3), 119-128.
Image by Himmelgrün
