Fibrepac

Fibrepac food tray / Source: Fibrepac

EuropeFibrepacFood & BeveragePackaging

WHAT WE SAY:

Critics of the move away from plastic often cite the issues associated with an increasing reliance on tree-based paper. But paper doesn't always have to come from trees. UK-based Fibrepac is working with perennial-growing miscanthus to create tree-free packaging products for the food industry.

The company — and the use of miscanthus as a feedstock — is still in its infancy. But the plant's ability to be pulped and formed into myriad shapes without the use of chemicals gives us high hopes that this highly regenerative and renewable crop will lead to a better paper landscape.

Source: Fibrepac

ABOUT FIBREPAC

Fibrepac is a UK-based packaging company creating food-grade pulped packaging from giant Miscanthus.
Founded in January 2022 by Ian Bates, Hugh Massingberd-Mundy, Chris McNeill, and David Stone, and currently in pre-production, Fibrepac aims to harness the carbon-sequestering properties of the perennial growing miscanthus plant to replace many plastic packaging products with a renewable, PFAS-free alternative.
With manufacturing slated to start by the end of 2023, Fibrepac's material — also called Fibrepac — is made from miscanthus pulp mixed with wood pulp. It is initially being used to create thermoformed food trays and grow mats, with more applications under development.
The end product is a home compostable pack that's resistant to moisture and grease thanks to a water-based coating that's PFOA and additive free. The company is exploring ways to use lignin extract from the miscanthus itself to create this coating.
To make the material, Fibrepac harvests miscanthus grown in the UK and Europe, with representatives of ESG Natural Capital — Mundy and Stone — responsible for most of the miscanthus cultivation in the UK.
The company's first manufacturing plant is based in Lincolnshire, on the farm of one of the directors. The company currently has access to 20,000 tonnes of miscanthus annually. UK miscanthus cultivation is expected to grow to 100,000 tonnes within five years, most of which Fibrepac will have access to.
Fibrepac is in the process of signing a joint venture agreement with a large plastic packaging group. The group, which has over 50 factories across Europe, is looking to venture into alternative fibres and has zeroed in on miscanthus. The NDA protected partnership is said to be a “true collaboration”, with both companies funding half the cost of the agreement.
The company is committed to being carbon negative, powering its facility using the anaerobic digestion of miscanthus waste. It is also seeking home compostable certification for its material, and is considering working towards Red Tractor and B Corp certifications too.

Contact

Fibrepac

Founded: 2022
HQ: Essex, UK
Manufactures in: Europe
Distributes to: Europe

Material(s):

Fibrepac

Contact Visit

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

Fibrepac

MATERIAL

Regenerative and compostable food packaging made from local miscanthus.

Paper-and-pulp manufacturer dedicated to pushing renewable fibres to high-tech heights.

Japanese cellulosic materials expert replacing plastic films with NatureFlex.

Paper

MAKER

Van Genechten Packaging

Folding fibre carton specialists removing unnecessary plastic from everyday products.

Fibrepac

WHAT WE SAY:

Critics of the move away from plastic often cite the issues associated with an increasing reliance on tree-based paper. But paper doesn't always have to come from trees. UK-based Fibrepac is working with perennial-growing miscanthus to create tree-free packaging products for the food industry.

ABOUT FIBREPAC

Fibrepac is a UK-based packaging company creating food-grade pulped packaging from giant Miscanthus.

With manufacturing slated to start by the end of 2023, Fibrepac's material — also called Fibrepac — is made from miscanthus pulp mixed with wood pulp. It is initially being used to create thermoformed food trays and grow mats, with more applications under development.

The end product is a home compostable pack that's resistant to moisture and grease thanks to a water-based coating that's PFOA and additive free. The company is exploring ways to use lignin extract from the miscanthus itself to create this coating.

To make the material, Fibrepac harvests miscanthus grown in the UK and Europe, with representatives of ESG Natural Capital — Mundy and Stone — responsible for most of the miscanthus cultivation in the UK.

The company is committed to being carbon negative, powering its facility using the anaerobic digestion of miscanthus waste. It is also seeking home compostable certification for its material, and is considering working towards Red Tractor and B Corp certifications too.

Contact

Fibrepac

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: