German paper mill Scheufelen has announced plans to increase production of its grass paper. The decision comes amidst concern from policy-makers and consumers that petroleum-based plastics and their by-products are detrimental to cities, waterways and ecosystems across the world.

With proven paper innovations, the company’s latest grass paper product line is based on papers comprised of 50% fresh fibres from perennial fibers, such as sundried grass. By producing the paper with regional, natural, unpulped fibers, the material for the product line consumes 50% less carbon, energy, chemicals, and saves approximately 6000 litres of water per ton over alternative processes.

‘Just as people switched from fresh-fibre white paper to recycled paper en masse in the past, we expect people to shift now from plastic and recycled paper bags, trays, packaging foils with their negative health effects to grass paper, which is cost-competitive with a smaller environmental footprint and less health risks.’ said board member Andreas Rohardt.

The German firm, which began as a paper mill 250 years ago, filed for insolvency in January of 2018, but was rescued by investment from outside sources. One of these was the Green Growth Fund, whose founding partner, Jochen Wermuth, commented, ‘We are happy to have led this investment round and start the process of making the global paper and packaging industry far more sustainable.’

Scheulfelen believes that fresh-fibre products offer health benefits over recycled paper, where mineral oil-based inks can migrate to food through contact and potentially through evaporation. Because of this Switzerland has outlawed the use of food packaging from recycled paper.