As is well known, plastic decomposition can take decades or even centuries, and unfortunately, once it decomposes, plastic waste exists in the form of microplastics, which harms the health of our ecosystem.

With increasing awareness of plastic pollution and the enactment of plastic bans in many countries, various industries are looking for alternatives to plastic. One of the greatest advantages of these plant-based plastic substitutes is that they can utilize agricultural byproducts like sugarcane fibers.

1. What are sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane fibers?

Sugarcane fibers, also known as bagasse or sugarcane residue, are the fibrous part left after extracting juice and nutrients from the sugarcane stalks. This part of the sugarcane is typically discarded, burned, or used as fuel in sugar mills.

Transforming sugarcane straw into products gives them a new life as raw materials. Since it utilizes inedible byproducts from the food production process, this material is considered an extremely renewable resource.

Sugarcane bagasse can be used to produce various products, including paper products, paper packaging items, and even takeaway boxes, bowls, and trays.

2. How is sugarcane fiber packaging made?

Here are the steps involved in extracting sugarcane fibers and converting them into biodegradable packaging:

Step1: The harvested sugarcane is machine-juiced, extracting the juice and nutrients, leaving behind the sugarcane fibers.

Step2: The fibers are thoroughly mixed with water, then bleached and pulped. This process forms a pulp with a consistency similar to wood pulp.

Step3: Additives are mixed into the pulp, and the mixture is pressed and molded into packaging shapes using heat and pressure.

Step4: After cooling and solidifying, the packaging is removed from the mold, ready for transport and sale.

3. What are the environmental benefits of sugarcane fibers?

According to Time magazine, humans cut down 15 billion trees each year, and since the dawn of human civilization, the global tree population has decreased by 46%.

Furthermore, about 40% of the timber we cut down is used for commercial and industrial purposes. Overuse of wood leads to biodiversity loss, deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

By providing an alternative to tree-based paper products, sugarcane fibers show great potential.

Eco-friendly materials have three main characteristics: renewable, biodegradable, and compostable. Sugarcane fibers possess all three traits.

●Renewable: Around 1.2 billion tons of sugarcane are produced annually, generating 100 million tons of sugarcane bagasse each year. While some of this bagasse is used as biofuel, most is discarded. The production of sugarcane fiber packaging gives this agricultural byproduct, which would otherwise be wasted, a new use, thus reducing waste and supporting farmers.

●Biodegradable: We hope all products will eventually enter local composting facilities, but the reality is often different. We must plan for products that will end up in landfills and along roadsides. Biodegradability ensures that products break down over time. Sugarcane fibers can biodegrade in 30 to 90 days.

●Compostable: In commercial composting facilities, used sugarcane products decompose even faster. Within just 60 days, sugarcane bagasse can be fully composted. After composting, the sugarcane bagasse turns into nutrient-rich fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium.

4. How does it compare to other packaging materials?

Sugarcane fibers are an excellent alternative to paper products, polystyrene foam, and plastic packaging.

Polystyrene foam is a well-known environmental hazard and poses risks to human health. It can take 500 years or more to decompose and occupies about 30% of every landfill. Additionally, 20% of polystyrene foam doesn’t even reach landfills but pollutes our oceans and spreads on land.

Although many countries have banned polystyrene foam, it remains popular due to its light weight, low cost, and ability to maintain internal temperature.

In the food packaging sector, sugarcane fiber products are a comparable, affordable alternative to foam and paper products. They also have many other advantages:

1. Heat resistant (up to 200°F)
2. Oil- and water-resistant
3. Durable
4. Freezable