Solidus Solutions, Lexington, Mass., USA, (previously Smurfit Kappa Solid Board Packaging) reported this week on the successful development of a process to enrich solid paperboard with tomato plant fibers. Waste paper has been regarded as an essential component in the production of paperboard for many years. The wood fibers in waste paper can now be reused many times and consequently are a valuable raw material for cardboard manufacturers. A great amount of research and effort has been put into successfully maximizing the efficiency of paperboard. In addition, Solidus searches for new and alternative raw material to add to improve the strength of recycled fiber mix. The company searches for material that is sustainable and cost effective.

Some time ago, Solidus Solutions and partners from the vegetable and fruit industry met for a brainstorming session about the possibility of making solid paperboard from tomato plant fiber. The idea was conceived in the Westland region, the epicenter of fruit and vegetable growers in the Netherlands. The useful application of plant residue flows from tomato, pepper, and cucumber crops had been an item of discussion for some time. After harvest time each year, tomato plant residue flow becomes available in large quantities from the growers and is largely composted. However, it has now become possible to not compost these plants but rather convert them into a valuable raw material that, in combination with waste paper fibers, can be processed into solid board.

 

Recycled wood fibers enriched with the fresh strength of virgin tomato plant fibers could soon become an important part of the paperboard recycling chain in farming regions where excess tomato stalks could be easily gathered.

 

The first tests of tomato plant board took place at Solidus Solutions. In one of the first significant orders and uses for the new material, Solidus supplied a 5kg tomato box made of tomato plant board. Recently, this new material was used to produce packaging for exclusive Silky Pink cocktail tomatoes for Duijvestijn Tomaten, a producer of sustainably grown tomato products. These pink colored 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 throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

 

The company proudly claims that packaging tomatoes in paperboard packaging enriched with tomato plant fiber contributes to an innovative, nearly maximum reuse of raw materials. With this process, Solidus hopes to gain a foothold in production of a valuable new raw recycled material for the production of paperboard. The company states that this production is specifically designed to contribute to a sustainable, circular economy.