Trial production of paper from pepper fibers

A good example of sustainable development and the creation of a new type of paper is paper made from peppers, or paprika. Paprika is a delicious and healthy vegetable that is grown in a very clean way. When the peppers are grown, the pepper plant remains and is usually composted after cultivation. But much more is possible with the remaining plant. Using Biobased thinking a new idea emerged to give pepper plants a second life. All plants and trees have fibres, and these fibres may be used to make, among other things, paper and cardboard.

Vegetable and fruit seeds are sold in bags at the store. These bags are made of paper. By packing these seeds in paper made from the plant itself, the circle is complete. 

In order to make the process work, one needs a grower, a processor, a paper machine and a developer. An amalgamation of knowledge and resources has come together in making paper out of peppers.

Schut Papier in Heelsum became involved, utilizing the machine already successfully used for tomato fibres in the past. The cleaned paprika pulp is processed in the pulp machine, after which it goes into the paper machine and is squeezed in order to be dried. 

The fibres are not completely crushed, and also the colour is left intact. The result is a nice paper product of about 90 grams. By working with natural fibres, Schut Papier can offer an even greater variety of paper creations.