HortiBizから配信された記事（3月4日）に、生分解可能な包装資材（紙）の最新動向について3つの事例が紹介されていた。①紙製の包装資材（ランの生産者：Stolk Flora）、②輸送用の紙製トレイ（生分解可能な鉢とパレット：Modiform社）、③再利用可能なファイバートレイの導入（リサイクルシステムの推奨：フローラホランド）。
３社に共通しているのは、環境に配慮した包装資材を採用することで、貴重な天然資源の廃棄を避けることだ。その背後には、グローバルなコンセンサスとしてのSDG’ｓへの対応という動きがある。また、生分解可能な資材の利用が経済的に引き合ってきている事実も忘れてはならないだろう。SDG’ｓは、いまや単なるお題目ではなくなってきている。
プラスティック製品は生分解可能でないから、逆に廃棄コストがばかにならない。紙製のトレイや植物由来のパレットが、オランダのような国で導入が進んできていることは示唆的である。計算高いオランダ人がそちらの方向に目を向けているのだから、そろそろ再生包装資源（植物由来の資材）の経済性が担保されつつあるのだろう。
紙製品の物理的な衝撃耐性や防水性がいまいちであったが、そうした問題も技術進歩が解決しつつある。たとえば、ペットボトルをサーマルリサイクルさせるより、紙製のパッケージで自然な形で廃棄する（自然に帰る）ほうが理にかなっている場合もある。
花き業界だけでなく、このトレンドは一般的な傾向だと思える。スターバックやマクドナルドが、プラスティック製のストローをやめるなどの情勢を見ると、この趨勢は「非プラスティック化」が進展していることがわかるだろう。
オリジナルの英文記事は、以下のようになっている。
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”On trend: packaging made from paper”（HortiBizからの引用：2019.3.4）
Demand for the environmentally friendly use of materials is steadily increasing. As a result, more and more companies are using paper and cardboard packaging that can be disposed of and recycled like waste paper. This also applies to transport packaging, as shown by examples from Royal FloraHolland, Stolk Flora and Modiform.
STOLK MARKETS PHALAENOPSIS WITHOUT PLASTIC
Every plant from the Dutch phalaenopsis grower Stolk Flora, available under the name of Your Natural Orchid, will be marketed by the company in a paper tray wrapper. This will put an immediate end to the use of plastic wrap to package these plants, says grower Jan Stolk.
“Plants are almost always presented without a wrapper in florists and in garden centres. The plastic wrappers are disposed of as soon as the plants have been delivered, which is a huge waste. Our new tray wrapper made from paper makes this a thing of the past. We can offer optimum transport protection, even with minimal packaging.”
The paper wrapper completely envelops the tray and can be combined with the four-plant tray made from cardboard, or with the “EcoExpert” tray made from pulp and used for six or ten plants.
PAPER TRAYS SAVE TONNES OF PLASTIC WASTE
Instead of using plastic wrappers, Stolk Flora now uses recyclable paper. It has extrapolated its calculations to suggest that this novel packaging will save millions of wrappers and over 58 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Combined with the use of cardboard “EcoExpert” trays, this packaging is completely plastic-free, saving approximately 111 tonnes of plastic.
Every plant from the Dutch phalaenopsis grower Stolk Flora, available under the name of Your Natural Orchid, will be marketed by the company in a paper tray wrapper. This will put an immediate end to the use of plastic wrap to package these plants, says grower Jan Stolk.
“Plants are almost always presented without a wrapper in florists and in garden centres. The plastic wrappers are disposed of as soon as the plants have been delivered, which is a huge waste. Our new tray wrapper made from paper makes this a thing of the past. We can offer optimum transport protection, even with minimal packaging.”
The paper wrapper completely envelops the tray and can be combined with the four-plant tray made from cardboard, or with the “EcoExpert” tray made from pulp and used for six or ten plants.
PAPER TRAYS SAVE TONNES OF PLASTIC WASTE
Instead of using plastic wrappers, Stolk Flora now uses recyclable paper. It has extrapolated its calculations to suggest that this novel packaging will save millions of wrappers and over 58 tonnes of plastic waste annually.
Combined with the use of cardboard “EcoExpert” trays, this packaging is completely plastic-free, saving approximately 111 tonnes of plastic.
COMPLETELY BIODEGRADABLE: “ECOEXPERT” BY MODIFORM
Modiform designs and manufactures seedling, transportation and packaging systems, and continues to create horticultural packaging and transportation products that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Modiform developed its “EcoExpert” line after extensive research. The trays in this series are made from paper fibre instead of plastic.
The paper is 100% recovered from the production of cardboard boxes. This means that “EcoExpert” products can be easily recycled via the normal recycling (waste paper) system for households or retailers. They are also compostable and will be completely broken down within one year.
Modiform designs and manufactures seedling, transportation and packaging systems, and continues to create horticultural packaging and transportation products that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Modiform developed its “EcoExpert” line after extensive research. The trays in this series are made from paper fibre instead of plastic.
The paper is 100% recovered from the production of cardboard boxes. This means that “EcoExpert” products can be easily recycled via the normal recycling (waste paper) system for households or retailers. They are also compostable and will be completely broken down within one year.
RECYCLING POTS ARE CREATED IN A FULLY AUTOMATED PROCESS
Modiform’s “EcoExpert” pots and pallets are made from cardboard waste that has been collected. In a hydro-pulper, the fibres are dissolved to form a pulp. The entire process is fully automated.
The moulds for the pots and pallets are dipped into the pulp container, and the pulp is sucked onto the moulds through tiny vacuum holes. A rubber press then squeezes the pulp.
Once moulded, the pulp products have microscopic holes. As a result, Modiform uses a natural wax additive in the cardboard mix to clog up those little holes and create a waterproof barrier. This natural wax is fully biodegradable and can also be recycled with all other cardboard materials using standard recycling systems.
Modiform’s “EcoExpert” pots and pallets are made from cardboard waste that has been collected. In a hydro-pulper, the fibres are dissolved to form a pulp. The entire process is fully automated.
The moulds for the pots and pallets are dipped into the pulp container, and the pulp is sucked onto the moulds through tiny vacuum holes. A rubber press then squeezes the pulp.
Once moulded, the pulp products have microscopic holes. As a result, Modiform uses a natural wax additive in the cardboard mix to clog up those little holes and create a waterproof barrier. This natural wax is fully biodegradable and can also be recycled with all other cardboard materials using standard recycling systems.
CLOSED RECYCLING SYSTEM FOR PLASTIC PRODUCTS, TOO
Even for plastic products, Modiform believes that a closed recycling system is the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way to handle plastic materials. As often as possible, the company makes agreements with its customers to bring the products back to Modiform so that they can be re-processed into raw material for the manufacturing of additional products.
Modiform Denmark gives an example of how well this works: there, the company collaborates with a supermarket chain to take back all the trays from every branch in the entire country, and recycles them. “However, this works only with PS (polystyrene) trays because they can be recycled endlessly,” explains Gerd Steverding, sales manager for Germany. “This is in contrast to PET, which is not recycled after it has been used in horticulture.”
Even for plastic products, Modiform believes that a closed recycling system is the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way to handle plastic materials. As often as possible, the company makes agreements with its customers to bring the products back to Modiform so that they can be re-processed into raw material for the manufacturing of additional products.
Modiform Denmark gives an example of how well this works: there, the company collaborates with a supermarket chain to take back all the trays from every branch in the entire country, and recycles them. “However, this works only with PS (polystyrene) trays because they can be recycled endlessly,” explains Gerd Steverding, sales manager for Germany. “This is in contrast to PET, which is not recycled after it has been used in horticulture.”
ROYAL FLORAHOLLAND PROMOTES TRAYS MADE FROM PAPER FIBRES
The auctioneers Royal FloraHolland have also stated their desire to create a marketplace without creating refuse or wasting resources, with as many raw materials being reused as possible. Royal FloraHolland sees paper fibre trays as being an alternative to the plant trays used today, and has introduced the packaging code Fc225 for them. Customers can use this packaging code for their transactions.
The Fc225 paper fibre tray measures 28 x 40 centimetres (corresponding to standard pack 200) and is made from pressed paper fibres with a natural water-resistant coating. It is easily recyclable in the existing refuse system, like cardboard and paper.
The auctioneers Royal FloraHolland have also stated their desire to create a marketplace without creating refuse or wasting resources, with as many raw materials being reused as possible. Royal FloraHolland sees paper fibre trays as being an alternative to the plant trays used today, and has introduced the packaging code Fc225 for them. Customers can use this packaging code for their transactions.
The Fc225 paper fibre tray measures 28 x 40 centimetres (corresponding to standard pack 200) and is made from pressed paper fibres with a natural water-resistant coating. It is easily recyclable in the existing refuse system, like cardboard and paper.
Photo credit: Mayer
03/04/2019 – Mayer Planting Systems
