+ Mono material

Packaging that consists of only one raw material. In general, these are preferable to composite materials. If only because of their better recyclability. There are already modern plants which make this possible. However, these are not available everywhere. However, this is not always possible due to the protective properties required for the respective product.

+ Grass paper

The grass used for processing is obtained from local meadows and can be harvested several times a year. The grass dried into hay after mowing is then pressed into pellets, so-called GRASPAP®, in the next step. Thanks to this compression, a volume reduction is achieved, which simplifies and optimises logistics and further processing.

Compared to the raw material wood, grass has significantly shorter cellulose fibres. These contain only small amounts of the polymer lignin, which would have to be chemically dissolved out in the classic production of paper. Grass, on the other hand, can be processed purely mechanically into pellets without the use of chemical additives and water. By adding these pellets during paper production, the consumption of fresh wood fibers can be minimized. The important resource wood is thus conserved and is available for other uses. Grass paper can - depending on the intended use - be produced from up to 50 percent grass fibres for industrial production. The grass fibres are mixed with wood or waste paper fibres.

Since no chemicals are used, the grass fibre cannot be completely dissolved, so that it is less able to bind. This means that mixing of the fibres is still necessary. In order to be able to process higher proportions of the grass fibre, research is currently being carried out at this point so that higher grass fibre proportions can be used in the near future.

Not only are the use of chemical additives and the consumption of water thus greatly reduced - in addition, a local supply concept ensures up to 75 percent less CO² emissions in the ecobalance compared to traditional procurement channels for virgin fibres.

Thanks to the optimised production processes, valuable resources are thus conserved and our environment is significantly less polluted.

+ HDPE made from sugar cane

HDPE (High Density Polyethylen) Made from the renewable raw material sugar cane. This raw material reduces the dependence on crude oil. The material made from it consists of 90 percent green PE. For production reasons, it is currently essential to still use additives from fossil raw materials.

As it grows, the sugar cane plant captures and stores CO2 and thus contributes to reducing global warming. The materials made from this material have the same properties as plastic packaging. They are in no way inferior to a product in HDPE in terms of density and tear resistance. The product can be fully recycled after use (material 2 HDPE).

+ PaperWise

Cellulose is obtained from agricultural residues, which is the most important raw material in paper production. With a focus on people and nature, PaperWise transforms this cellulose into sustainable, high-quality paper and folding cartonboard. There is no difference between PaperWise paper and other paper and board brands. This enables agricultural waste to be given a second life by converting it into high-quality paper and folding cartonboard. cardboard can be converted. The agricultural residues replace the part of the tree fibres and therefore these trees no longer need to be specially planted, but can continue to grow in order to convert the CO2 in the atmosphere into oxygen and develop into natural forests with a great biological diversity. By using agricultural materials, arable land produces two products: food and the raw material for paper. This raw material is available about forty times faster.

+ Zellglas

Is produced from the natural renewable resource wood. Cellular glass has a high vapour permeability, which prevents condensation water from forming inside. The film is a thin transparent film with a crackling effect. The product is fully compostable.

+ PLA

PLA (polylactides)

A bio-based plastic that can be obtained from the basic raw material plant starch (corn, sugar cane, sugar beet, potatoes, wheat, etc.). Polylactic acid is produced by polymerisation of lactic acid (product of the fermentation of sugar and starch). Properties: transparent, rigid, low temperature resistance up to 45 °C, low barrier effect. Used for food packaging (trays, films, cups), moulded parts, cosmetics etc. 100 percent bio-based and 100 percent industrially degradable (according to DIN EN 13432).

+ CPLA

CPLA (crystalized Polylactide) Is produced by the crystallization of PLA material. This makes the PLA additionally heat-resistant up to approx. 85 °C and extremely dimensionally stable.

+ cellulose, paper

Cellulose is an important raw material for paper production. Wood, which is rich in lignin and cellulose, serves as the starting raw material. This is first used to produce groundwood pulp, which is used for low quality paper. By removing the lignin content, pulp can be produced, which consists mainly of cellulose and can be used for higher quality paper.

+ Parchment substitute

A white greaseproof paper made from wood (100 percent fresh pulp). Through appropriate grinding and impregnation it has special properties: Parchment substitute is wet-strength and greaseproof. Used as wrapping paper in the operating departments. Biodegradable.

+ Mechanical pulp

The material mechanical pulp is made from fast growing trees. species, such as coniferous woods. In the first processing step, the wood is shredded into so-called wood chips. These are impregnated, thermally treated and ground in the subsequent production process to produce fine fibres. These wood pulp fibres are formed into our WEBAseal sealing trays made of wood pulp by means of pressure and temperature. Whether "Cook & Serve", "Cook & Hold", "Cook & Chill" or for safe transport - our WEBAseal mechanical pulp sealing trays are suitable for almost every application. They are heat-resistant and suitable for the preparation of the filled food in the oven (up to 150°C, maximum 45 minutes) and in the microwave (up to 750 watts, maximum 5 minutes). Furthermore, they are suitable for freezing down to a temperature of -40°C. The surface is fat-resistant and moisture-stable, so that you can easily fill in any type of food.

+ Glassine

Transparent, smooth paper made of glassine is produced from pure cellulose (mainly obtained from spruce wood). This material is 100% recyclable and fully compostable. The paper gets its transparency and surface smoothness from mechanical treatment, not chemical additives. It can also be disposed of with the waste paper, provided that no food residues are left.

+ Composite material

Composite materials can also be recycled in modern plants. The separated starting materials obtained in this way can be recycled. Packaged goods often require a number of different protective properties. To ensure that the packaging does justice to all, materials with different properties are combined and used in combination. This combination creates a new packaging material with special properties. The individual material layers can be less than 10 micrometers (mµ) thin. To achieve the same property with mono-materials, in most cases significantly more material would have to be used.

+ Bagasse

Sugar cane fibres that remain after the sugar cane juice has been pressed are called bagasse. In the past, bagasse was burned mainly as a waste product. Today it is considered a valuable raw material for compostable packaging.

Approximately 10 tons of sugar cane produce about 1,000 kg sugar and 3,400 kg bagasse. After pressing, the bagasse fibres are stored in water to remove any remaining sugar residues. The bagasse fibres are then processed into a pulpy mass. This is then poured into moulds and pressed into packaging at high temperature.

No additional cultivation areas are required for bagasse. A sustainable alternative that is completely in line with the cradle-to-cradle principle.

+ Mater-Bi

Mater-Bi® comprises a whole family of biodegradable and compostable bioplastics. It can be produced from either corn starch or vegetable oils. Only plants that have not been genetically modified are used for this purpose. No additional arable land is required for the production of the raw materials; instead, land is used that is already cultivated in conventional agriculture. // www.materbi.com

+ Waxed tissue paper

Wax tissue paper is an unbleached natural packaging paper with a natural wax coating. Due to this the packing of fat and moisture sensitive products is no problem. It consists of 100 percent renewable raw materials (cellulose, sugar, water and carnauba wax) and is therefore free of chemicals, silicone, paraffin and petroleum. The wax is extracted from the carnauba palm and the leaves grow back completely after the wax is scraped off. This wax is used because it is particularly stable and heat-resistant up to approx. 80 °C.

+ PBAT

PBAT (polybutylene adipate terephthalate) Polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) is a biodegradable and compostable copolymer from the group of polyesters. It is produced from dimethyl terephthalate or terephthalic acid with adipic acid and 1,4-butanediol.

+ Compostable

Biodegradable plastics are considered compostable if they completely decompose to water, CO2 and biomass within a defined period of time in a technical composting plant under defined conditions. DIN14995 defines the compostability of plastics. By comparison, the authoritative DIN EN 13432 specifies the compostability of packaging. However, the underlying criteria are the same for both.

To comply with the above-mentioned standards, the plastic or packaging must meet the following criteria:

a) Information on material contents b) Biodegradation (at least 90 percent must be degraded within 3 months). c) After a maximum of 12 weeks a maximum of 10 percent of the compost may remain, the components of which are larger than a 2 mm sieve fraction. d) The compost quality is checked by means of plant growth tests. e) Additives containing less than 1 percent must be harmless for composting. f) The residual materials of the contents contained in the packaging must be harmless for composting. g) The total sum of organic compounds not intended for biodegradation shall not exceed 5 per cent. h) Organic additives (less than 1 per cent) shall meet the requirements of biodegradable additives.

If all the above requirements are met and tested, the product is considered compostable and may bear the "Keimling", "OK Compost" or "OK compost HOME" logo. The best known certification bodies for this are DIN Certco and Vincotte.

In this respect, a basic distinction is made between 2 different types of composting:

Industrial composting. (seedling / OK compost) Composting of these articles is only possible in industrial composting plants.**

Domestic composting. (OK compost HOME) In these the temperature conditions under which the product decomposes are significantly reduced. These articles can therefore be composted in household compost, taking into account the necessary conditions (humidity, temperature, pH value, layer thickness and surface).

+ Biodegradable plastics

Biodegradable plastics decompose completely to carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O) and biomass during composting by microorganisms. In addition, methane (CH4) is also produced during fermentation. The following parameters are important for composting: temperature, humidity, pH value, layer thickness and the surface of the product.

The origin of the raw material - whether from renewable or fossil sources - is not important for degradability. Only its chemical structure is decisive. Only if microorganisms or their enzymes are able to split and completely metabolize the molecules that make up the plastic, is it biodegradable.

+ Cradle-to-cradle

Behind the cradle-to-cradle principle (according to Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart and McDonough) is the idea of thinking in complete product cycles from the very beginning and, in this sense, of not letting waste in the conventional sense arise in the first place. Nature knows no waste or refuse.

Products should be manufactured in such a way that reuse and recyclability are considered from the very beginning. All material used can be reused after use or composted without harmful residues. Terms such as 'ecological', 'environmentally friendly' or 'sustainable' are thus rendered obsolete. Ideally, the same or better conditions should be created for future generations.

It is also a matter of making production processes more sparing and promoting the restructuring of current energy production (instead of continuing to drive forward the scarcity of carbon-rich resources by burning fossil fuels).
Renewable energies are thus becoming a basic prerequisite for a holistic and effective raw materials cycle.

A distinction is made between the biological and the technical cycle.