From February, Dutch paper manufacturer Crown van Gelder will be marketing a paper made from sugar beet. This new line of papers, called Crown Native, is said to have 16% less environmental impact than traditional paper.
This new paper is initially available in reels of 80 and 90 gr/m 2 explains Philippe Simoni, the papermaker's French sales development manager. Its surface is characterized by small, dark, irregular elements. "It has very good strength and finishing properties" he points out.
It took two years of research to develop this product. The group, which produces 180,000 tonnes of paper a year, succeeded in replacing 20% of wood fibers with beet pulp. The beet used comes from the agricultural production of Royal Cosun, a major Dutch agricultural cooperative. "This residue of agricultural production is often transformed into animal feed or biogas, explains Miklas Dronkers, Managing Director of Crown Van Gelder. But by incorporating it into our paper, it becomes a valuable resource."
Environmental and technical advantages
The use of beet reduces the volume of water needed for paper production, and local sourcing of beet reduces environmental impact.
What's more, the use of sugar beet makes the paper compliant with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards. "The pulp is classified as an old food product, explains Miklas Dronkers. As a result, Crown Native is approved and suitable for food packaging, unlike recycled paper, for example."
It is also suitable for the manufacture of paper bags and promotional prints, according to the papermaker.
A beet-based packaging soon on the market
In fact, the papermaker has been working for several months with Van Gilse, the Netherlands' leading sugar producer. This sugar is made from beet grown by the Royal Cosun cooperative. Next March, the 1 kg crystal sugar packets on sale in Dutch supermarkets, as well as the 25 kg industrial bags, will be packaged in Crown Native.
"We're delighted that this is now technically and financially possible, says Richelle van Helten, Consumer Products Brand Manager at Cosun Beet Company. The packaging reflects our ambition to be the greenest and most innovative sugar beet processor in the world."
