US: Solid board packaging made from tomato plants

Solidus Solutions (previously Smurfit Kappa Solid Board Packaging) recently developed a process to enrich solid board with tomato plant fibres. Waste paper has been regarded as an essential component in the production of solid board for some time now. The wood fibres in the waste paper can be reused many times and consequently are a valuable raw material for cardboard manufacturers. In addition, Solidus Solutions is always looking for new and alternative raw materials.

Some time ago, Solidus Solutions and partners from the vegetable and fruit industry met for a brainstorm about the possibility to make solid board from tomato plants. The idea was conceived in the Westland region, the epicentre of fruit and vegetable growers in the Netherlands. The useful application of plant residue flows from tomato, pepper and cucumber crops, for instance, had been an item of discussion for some time. Once a year, the tomato plant residue flow becomes available in large quantities from the growers and is composted. However, it has now become possible to not compost these plants but to turn them into a valuable raw material that, in combination with waste paper fibres, can be processed into solid board. This solid board enriched with tomato plant fibres has also become part of the paper recycling chain.

The first test products of this tomato plant board have been realised at Solidus Solutions. At an earlier stage, Solidus Solutions supplied a 5kg tomato box made of this tomato plant board. Recently, this new solid board was used to produce packaging for exclusive Silky Pink cocktail tomatoes for Duijvestijn Tomaten, the most innovative producer of sustainably grown tasty tomato products. These pink coloured tomatoes are popular in Asian cuisine. That is why, besides Europe, the 3kg Silky Pink Tomatoes bio based packaging is also being delivered to destinations overseas.

This new solid board was also used to produce consumer packaging for 0,7 till 1 kg vine tomatoes for Harvest House, the fruiting vegetables growers association. The tomato plant fibre was deliberately made visible at the inside of this consumer packaging.

Packaging tomatoes in solid board enriched with tomato plant fibre contributes to a maximum reuse of these raw materials. With this process, Solidus Solutions has gained a valuable raw material for the production of solid board, which also contributes to the circular economy.

For more information:
Saskia Cooman
Solidus Solutions
Tel: +31 (0)619295218+31 (0)619295218
Email: press@solidus-solutions.com
www.solidus-solutions.com