What is sugarcane food packaging?

There literally is no future in single-use anything, particularly single-use plastic and Styrofoam takeaway packaging, cutlery, bowls, plates and cups. We simply have to find better alternatives: ones that protect our planet and minimise emissions and resource use.

You may think, “she’ll be right, New Zealand is clean and green and there aren’t that many of us”. Well, you’d be wrong.

We’re one of the world’s most wasteful nations per capita (OECD 2018; World Bank 2018). And according to the Ministry for the Environment in 2019, the amount of waste we’ve sent to landfill in last decade has risen by 45 per cent, much of it stuff that we use for a ridiculously short time.

Time for a change

Sugarcane fibre packaging is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional packaging and tree-based paper products. Biodegradable, compostable, ethically sourced and renewable, sugarcane products are durable, microwave safe, insulating, and even work with high temperatures.

The advantages are clear when compared to alternatives such as paper, wood pulp fibre, Styrofoam, and petroleum-based plastics.

What is sugarcane and how is it produced?

Sugarcane fibre, or bagasse, is the fibrous part of the sugarcane stalk left after the juice has been extracted. The fibres are then blended with water to create a pulp with a consistency similar to that of wood pulp. Pressure and heat are used to transform and mould the pulp into a variety of different products, including packaging, cups, bowls, cutlery, boxes, and trays.

If your food business currently uses paper, wood pulp, Styrofoam or plastic, then sugar cane products are worth considering, particularly as New Zealand's single-use plastic ban comes into force.

The sustainability of a business can impact revenue, both positively and negatively. A 2020 Colmar Brunton report revealed that 70% of New Zealanders look for environmentally and animal friendly labels and claims when shopping.

One aspect of sustainability consumers consider is packaging. According to Colmar Brunton, 69% of New Zealanders are concerned about the build-up of plastic and 83% of New Zealanders think businesses aren’t doing enough to reduce their environmental impact.

If you’re passionate about sustainability and offering renewable, biodegradable products to your customers, sugarcane fibre packaging is a fantastic option.

Need more convincing?

Between 3.5 billion to 7 billion trees are being cut every year according to a report published by the Rainforest Action Network (RAN). Around 10 million of those trees are cut down every single year just to manufacture paper cups. Every tree used for takeaway packaging, cutlery, cups, bowls and plates is a tree removed from the ecosystem than can no longer absorb carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, or filter ground water. The overuse of wood leads to biodiversity loss, water pollution and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

Will sugarcane fibre work for your business?

If your food business currently uses paper, wood pulp, Styrofoam or plastic, then why not get in touch to try our sugarcane products; we have an extensive range. At Insinc, we offer sugarcane products like trays, containers, lids, food boxes, serving spoons and even elegant coffee cups.

Contact us for helpful, impartial advice on how to meet your packaging needs with the most eco-friendly materials on the market. Email us or call 0508 467 462. We offer cost-effective, competitive pricing with products ranging from economy to premium brands; we are bound to have something to suit your business. Buy online or open an account and we will deliver to your business anywhere in New Zealand.