Industrial hemp is one of the few renewable raw materials that grows all year round. The plant also binds more CO₂ than trees and can replace wood as a source of raw material, thereby helping to protect forests. The Cologne-based start-up PAPACKS is also capitalising on these advantages. Since 2013, the company has been developing sustainable packaging based on fresh and recycled fibres – including industrial hemp. The range extends from egg boxes and cream jars to inlays and cardboard packaging for industry.

Taking the industrial use of hemp to a new level

In order to further promote the use of industrial hemp, the Cologne-based packaging pioneer will intensify its strategic cooperation with the chemical company Solenis in the field of industrial hemp. The aim of the expanded cooperation is to take the cultivation and industrial use of hemp as a sustainable raw material for the packaging industry to a new level.

According to PAPACKS, the collaboration will focus on standardising raw material quality, optimising processes and developing scalable fibre casting solutions for food, consumer goods and technical packaging. ‘In Solenis, we have an experienced partner at our side who not only shares our goal of a plastic-free packaging world, but is also actively helping to shape it. Together, we are making hemp not only scalable, but also process-reliable,’ says Tahsin Dag, founder and managing director of PAPACKS.

Realising sustainable packaging on an industrial scale

With over 5,000 hectares of hemp cultivation in Ukraine and a production capacity of over one billion packaging units per year, the Cologne-based start-up has laid the foundation for the industrial use of hemp in Europe. Solenis is now complementing this with its expertise in additive chemistry and process optimisation. ‘The challenge lies not only in innovation, but also in standardisation and optimisation. This is exactly where we come in with PAPACKS, to make sustainable packaging feasible on an industrial scale,’ says Amy Sand, Global Director Food Packaging at Solenis.

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