Miscanthus

AsiaCompostableEuropeFlexibleFood & BeverageFood GradeFreezer SafeLightweightLow-CarbonMicrowave SafePackagingPaperRecyclableRegenerativeTextiles

WHAT WE SAY:

The only way we'll ever completely replace plastic is by harnessing the potential of plant-based materials. But with over a million tonnes of plastic produced worldwide every day, we need a lot of plants to truly turn the tide. One possible solution lies with Miscanthus. It's a fast-growing plant that not only sequesters huge amounts of carbon, but has myriad applications in the consumer space, from thermoformed trays to tree-free paper.

There are strides to be made in collaborative approaches, and investments needed into R&D. But this hardy, fibrous plant - which grows on marginal land not fit for food crops - represents a localised solution to the plastic problem for manufacturers based in the US, UK, and Europe.

Crushed miscanthus / Source: Noorverk

WHAT IS MISCANTHUS?

Giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) is a C4 perennial grass that originated in East Asia. The plant produces large amounts of biomass, and has been used for animal bedding and construction for thousands of years. It was originally brought over to Europe and the US to be used for horticulture.
Asia doesn't use miscanthus at an industrial scale, instead relying on other local fibres such as Bamboo and Bagasse, of which it has plenty. But the plant represents a key opportunity for industrial scale, plastic-free innovation in the West, with multiple uses emerging.
Current applications include 3D thermoformed food trays, animal bedding, animal food additives, bio-concrete, Paper, and seed growing mats. It can also be used for insulation, bioplastics, food, the pharmaceutical industry, ethanol, fibreboard, and spun into thread for clothing. It’s even been utilised in Asia, Europe, the UK, and US for biomass electricity generation, although burning good fibre seems wasteful.
According to Ian Bates, Director of Fibrepac - a miscanthus packaging manufacturer - miscanthus is actually in the same family as sugarcane (bagasse) and bamboo. Giant miscanthus is the second fastest growing plant in the world in terms of biomass, and due to its hybrid nature, it is the only one out of 12 species of miscanthus that is infertile and noninvasive. A hardy plant that can survive in many different climates, it can be grown on marginal land unsuitable for food or other fibrous crops.
As a perennial crop, giant miscanthus only needs to be planted once, and from rhizomes instead of seeds. It takes three years for the plant to mature before the first harvest. Miscanthus will continue to grow for up to 25 years, and is harvested using standard farming equipment in winter or early spring while the plant is dormant. The material is ready to use right away, as it has low moisture content and doesn’t need time to dry.
Most studies in the US show that giant miscanthus produces 10-15 dry tons per acre every year after maturation, and can grow up to 12 feet tall. Although the crop doesn’t need fertiliser or pesticides to grow, light amounts of fertiliser have been shown to increase biomass in less than ideal soil conditions. This reduces chemical runoff into waterways.
Like any natural material, giant miscanthus is biodegradable and compostable. The discrepancies lie in how products made from miscanthus are manufactured, and what chemicals or additives are included.
Giant miscanthus is not grown in mass quantities yet. Small plots in the US have been grown for small industrial endeavours and biomass electricity generation. This includes the University of Iowa, where 1,100 acres were grown as of 2021 to help the university towards its goal of being coal free by 2025.
According to Bates, 10,000 tonnes of miscanthus are grown in the UK every year. In the next five years, this will increase to over 100,000 tonnes.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Compostable
Flexible
Food Grade
Freezer Safe
Lightweight
Low-Carbon
Microwave Safe
Recyclable
Regenerative

INDUSTRY:

Food & Beverage
Packaging
Textiles

AVAILABILITY:

Commercially Available

DIVE DEEPER:

Unfortunately, the volume of miscanthus that's being grown pales in comparison to the amount of plastic we need to replace. According to Statista, 390.7 million tonnes of plastic was generated worldwide in 2021, more than one million tonnes per day. While one plant can't replace all of that, a number of plants together can do the job. Those looking to utilise miscanthus should set their sights on upending the styrofoam industry.
In 2021, polystyrene (styrofoam) production reached 15.18 million tonnes. Polystyrene can last for decades or centuries in direct sunlight, breaking down into microplastics, which float in oceans or sit in landfills. It leaches toxic chemicals and is ingested by fish, birds, and land animals – including us. With its insulating and padding properties, and ability to be thermoformed into food trays and packaging, giant miscanthus could take a big bite out of polystyrene use.
It has other use cases too. Miscanthus offers a tree-free paper source, helping to reduce deforestation and the growing strain on FSC-certified forests. What's more, just like trees, giant miscanthus' roots stay underground all year, allowing for better carbon sequestration.
Giant miscanthus performs better at absorbing carbon than most other plants. A C4 plant - the majority are classified as C3 - miscanthus doesn't release CO2 back into the atmosphere when the plant is stressed, thereby increasing the amount it sequesters. According to Terravesta, miscanthus can capture a minimum of 2.35 tonnes of CO2e in soil per hectare per year.
As well as being more proficient at cleaning our atmosphere, perennial crops also come with the benefit of cost effectiveness for farmers. While miscanthus is grown from rhizomes instead of seeds, requiring specialised equipment for planting and more upfront costs, there is minimal expense once the plant matures – just the cost of harvesting for the next 25 years.
It also has a horizontal root structure and can survive crop fires, eliminating the need for new plantings. And without yearly tilling, there is little soil runoff into waterways, keeping farmers’ water supplies cleaner and their soil in the ground. All of these factors, plus the fact that it grows on marginal land not fit for other crops, makes miscanthus a cost-effective crop.
While miscanthus is still in its infancy in terms of industrial manufacturing and production, some companies are getting in on the ground floor. Fibrepac, led by Bates, manufactures 3D thermoformed food trays (without PFAS), mushroom growing mats, and more, with the first scaled solutions hitting the market soon.
Vibers, based in the Netherlands, uses giant miscanthus in paper, cardboard, bioplastics, and bio-concrete, while MFiber, headquartered in Missouri, uses giant miscanthus as a healthy and environmentally friendly ingredient in pet food, replacing beet pulp and powdered Cellulose from trees.

KEY FACTS:

12ft

Giant miscanthus can grow up to 12 feet tall

25yrs

Miscanthus will continue to grow for up to 25 years

2.35tns

Giant miscanthus can capture a minimum of 2.35 tonnes of CO2e in soil per hectare, per year

Key Questions to Ask:

How much material do you need?

Large quantities of miscanthus aren't readily available at present, and many plots are already pegged for energy production, so your ability to source quantities of miscanthus may be limited. Contracting with small farmers could be a good way to get a steady supply of fibre until more becomes available. Brands looking to invest in miscanthus-based products should look internally for land, determining if any could be regeneratively planted and miscanthus added to the mix. Investment is also needed to reach miscanthus' potential, with brand engagement key.

Do you need a moisture barrier?

Miscanthus acts like paper, meaning it will absorb any moisture it comes into contact with. For those working in food packaging, coatings are key to the plant's usability, but these coatings must be free of fossil fuels and toxic chemicals to ensure the plant remains benign. Look to MelOx for inspiration, a ready-to-scale oxygen barrier coating made from cellulose.

Are you open to collaboration?

Research on giant miscanthus is still fairly limited to energy production and a handful of products. To grow this crop into an industrial force, people will need to come together to share, discover, and expand. Take inspiration from the relatively nascent Hemp industry that has developed a number of trade groups and organisations through which companies can share knowledge. This will be key to unlocking the many possibilities of miscanthus.

Is miscanthus local to you?

While plants are far better than plastic, brands should be cautious about which plants they use and where the plant-based product will end up. Creating and disposing of products in regions where miscanthus isn't native or adapted could disrupt the local biodiversity levels. While miscanthus is adapted to the US, farmers in the region should also look into native prairie grasses such as Nettle or switchgrass, which both need further study for industrial purposes. Using native plants should be prioritised, however since miscanthus can produce up to twice the amount of biomass as switchgrass, it offers a more scalable solution.