Press Release: Agricultural residues as a sustainable alternative in paper production

As a pioneer in paper production from alternative fibers, Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere significantly reduces the use of wood as a raw material. Regionally available plant-based fiber materials are the basis for resource-saving paper products.

Statistically, Germans consume more than 200 kg of cardboard, paper and paperboard per capita every year. Even though it has been possible in recent years to continuously increase the recycling rate in paper production, particularly in the area of corrugated board production, and now almost reached the maximum of what is currently technically possible with 79 % recycled paper, Germany continues to be the Europen leader in wood consumption for paper production. To meet this demand, Germany imports more than 80 % of the pulp it needs, mainly from Brazil, Sweden and Finland. The associated transportation costs have a noticable negative impact on the life cycle assessment of conventional paper. Against the background of a growing awareness of the global consequences of the overly careless use of natural resources, there is increasing interest in paper products that, in addition to using recycled paper, reduce imports of virgin fibers from wood pulp as much as possible. 

Sustainability in the paper industry breaks new ground

Pulp for paper production from virgin wood fibers from deciduous and coniferous trees has proven itself for centuries. Due to their morphology, wood fibers provide perfect properties in the manufacturing process and can be optimally adjusted through targeted preparation depending on the requirements for the finished paper.  

However, pulp can not only be produced from wood. A variety of other locally available fiber plants are also suitable, to be used as valuable raw material for paper production.

„What could be more obvious than exploiting domestic raw material sources for paper production,"  explains Karl Augustin, Head of Product Management at Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere in Teisnach. „In Germany alone, for example, around 10 million tons of cereal straw are available. With modern pulping processes, high-quality fibers can be obtained from them, which, according to our findings, are ideally suited for the production of specialty papers. This makes valuable use of an agricultural residue that is produced anyway. Using modern pulping processes, high-quality fibers can be obtained from them, which, according to our findings, are ideally suited for the production of specialty papers. In this case, an agricultural residue that is already produced is used in a valuable way. Neither additional cultivation areas nor additional water or other resources are used for this material. In addition, dependence on raw material imports and unnecessarily long transport routes are reduced."

Innovation and sustainability as a recipe for success

With the PT ECO-FIBER®  product line, Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere offers a selection of marketable products made from alternative fibers. In production, some of the wood pulp required is replaced by grass fibers, wheat straw, silphia fibers or cocoa shells from production waste in the chocolate industry. In addition, Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere is constantly researching the use of further alternative raw materials and is also continuously expanding the technical requirements with focus on sustainability.

Pfleiderer Teisnach has been producing and selling specialty papers for technical applications, food packaging and decorative applications worldwide for more than 140 years. The company consistently focusses on innovative new develeopments and, with the PT ECO-Vision sustainability concept, pursues a corporate and product strategy that is cemprehensively geard towards protecting the environment.

„By expanding our wastewater treatment capacities and with technical optimizations in pulp treatment, Pfleiderer has optimally positioned itself for the processing of alternative pulps," explains Reinhold Walter, Head of Research and Development at Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere. "Thanks to this technical potential and its experience in this area, Pfleiderer is increasingly in demand as a development partner and is the place to go when it comes to transferring laboratory findings into industrial practice."

In combination with environmetally friendly, bio-based barrier coatings against grease and water, the PT ECO-FIBER® products developed by Pfleiderer are suitable as a packaging material for food, for example. Users can specifically incorporate the special look of the innovative paper solution into a marketing strategy focused on sustainability. In addition to its visual appeal, the material made from alternative fibers also impresses with lower energy and water consumption and a significantly reduced CO²-footprint compared to conventional paper products made from wood pulp.

„Together For A Green Future“ – Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere at FACHPACK 2024

Interested parties can get a personal impression of the specific features of PT ECO-FIBER® papers and information on the entire product portfolio of Pfleiderer Spezialpapiere at the FACHPACK packaging trade fair in Hall 3A – 150 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center from September 24 to 26, 2024.