The development of a box made of fibres from tomato stems, is ready for the next step. Biobased Westland, Research Centre Paper and Cardboard and Wageningen UR Greenhouse are looking to improve the concept, boosting it while keeping it economically viable. This requires a subsidy from the province of South Holland. This fall it will become clear whether the application is approved.
The follow-up project goes beyond the tomato box. It will be investigated weather other parts of the plant, like its leaves, can be used as raw material for pulp trays. The developers also mean to extract components from the juice of the stem and use it for the production of bio plastics and bioactive substances. The bioactive substances should ensure improved sustainability of the tomato in the package.
Organic waste from the tomato industry offers many opportunities. Every year, horticulture alone provides 80,000 tons of raw material, making it one of the largest waste streams in this sector. In the next phase, those involved will also investigate various logistics scenarios, which include proper processing and the individual conversion of waste material.
Source: Kenniscentrum Plantenstoffen