Put crop residue to work.
Use sugarcane bagasse as a material for molded packaging.
04 / Sustainability
Give sugarcane fiber a second job.
We start with the fiber left after pressing sugarcane and consider what happens to the finished pack after it’s used.
Follow the materialThe bagasse pathway
From cane to container.
- 01
Source the residue
Use the fiber left after sugarcane is pressed as a feedstock for molded packaging.
- 02
Shape it for the job
Form that fiber into packaging designed for specific uses, from produce trays to takeaway containers.
- 03
Consider disposal
Match disposal guidance to the finished packaging and the collection and processing options available where it is used.
Compare packaging formats
Packaging Impact Calculator
Estimate plastic displaced in a switch to molded fiber. If you have production fuel figures for both packs, compare fuel use too.
This example assumes packs of equal weight, switching from 100% fossil-based plastic to fiber with 0% fossil-based plastic. Choose actual plastic content for packs with mixed materials.
Fossil-based plastic
Yearly and monthly estimates assume a steady pack volume.
Need a carbon estimate?
Share both pack formats for a product-specific comparison of production, transport and disposal.
Material and process priorities
Where we focus.
Offer alternatives to conventional plastics.
Develop fiber and bio-film formats for applications that often use single-use plastic.
Design for water reuse.
Include on-site wastewater treatment and reuse in the plant design.
Material questions
What to check.
What is sugarcane bagasse?
It’s the fibrous material left after extracting juice from sugarcane. It can be processed into pulp and formed into rigid shapes such as trays and containers.
What have studies found about carbon emissions?
In a 2020 manufacturing comparison, researchers estimated 0.22 kg CO₂e per kg for a sugarcane-and-bamboo fiber prototype using a carton-board proxy. They cited 7.36 kg CO₂e per kg for expanded polystyrene from earlier research. The figures reflect those manufacturing assumptions. Liu et al., Matter
A Thai lunch-box study found higher emissions for bagasse than foam under its landfill scenario and lower emissions under its modeled recycling scenario. Its bagasse boxes weighed 18 g each and the foam boxes weighed 3.6 g each. Fangmongkol and Gheewala, Journal of Sustainable Energy & Environment
How should we handle the pack after use?
Start with guidance for the exact finished format and ask which materials your local collector or processor accepts.
What documentation should buyers ask for?
Tell us which product, market and use conditions you’re evaluating. Ask for the relevant product-level material, performance and disposal information for that application.
Work with us
Planning a packaging transition?
Tell us which materials you use today and how your packaging is collected after use.
