PERTANIKA JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

 

e-ISSN 2231-8534
ISSN 0128-7702

Home / Regular Issue / JSSH Vol. 29 (4) Oct. 2021 / JST-2648-2021

 

Development of Pulp Moulded Packaging Samples from Empty Fruit Bunch Fibre

Qiuyun Liu, Ceri Loxton, Amir Alzahari Mohamed, Mohammad Jawaid, Radek Braganca and Robert Elias

Pertanika Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Volume 29, Issue 4, October 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.29.4.36

Keywords: Empty fruit bunch, packaging, pulp moulding, trays

Published on: 29 October 2021

Single-use plastic packaging is a cause of rising environmental concerns due to high production volumes, short usage time, and problems related to end of life management and release into the environment. As a result, there is an increased demand to develop alternative non-plastic packaging from agricultural waste materials. This paper reported findings for converting, via atmospheric refining, waste oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) fibres into a fibrous pulp which can then be used to produce three-dimensional pulp moulded products. By optimising the mould design, the efficiency of vacuum suction was improved, which in turn helped to improve fibre distribution and the quality of moulded trays; such moulded trays are suitable for the containment of food items such as fruit and vegetables. Furthermore, when combined with compostable barrier treatments, lidding and adhesive films currently under development, there is an opportunity to provide a complete biocompostable packaging solution for some food items. Furthermore, as these pulp moulded packaging products are made from agricultural fibre wastes rather than plastics, the pulp moulded trays are recyclable or compostable at the end of life. Therefore, if a release does occur into the environment, it would not persist.

  • Bengtström, L. (2014). Chemical identification of contaminants in paper and board food contact materials (PhD Thesis). Technical University of Denmark, Denmark.

  • Cole, C. (2017, October 20). China bans foreign waste - but what will happen to the world’s recycling? The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/china-bans-foreign-waste-but-what-will-happen-to-the-worlds-recycling-85924

  • Curling, S., Laflin, N., Davies, G., Ormondroyd, G., & Elias, R. (2017). Feasibility of using straw in a strong, thin, pulp moulded packaging material. Industrial Crops and Products, 97, 395-400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.12.042

  • Didone, M., Saxena, P., Meijer, E. B., Tosello, G., Bissacco, G., McAloone, T. C., & Howard, T. J. (2017). Moulded pulp manufacturing: Overview and prospects for the process technology. Packaging Technology and Science, 30(6), 231-249. https://doi.org/10.1002/pts.2289

  • Ferrer, A., de Vega, A., Ligero, P., & Rodríguez A. (2011). Pulping of empty fruit bunches (EFB) from the palm oil industry by formic acid. Bioresources, 6(4), 4282-4301.

  • Geueke, B., Groh, K., & Muncke, J. (2018). Food packaging in the circular economy: Overview of chemical safety aspects for commonly used materials. Journal of Cleaner Production, 193, 491-505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.005

  • Geyer, R., Jambeck, J. R., & Law, K. L. (2017). Production, use and fate of all plastics ever made. Science Advance, 3(7), Article e1700782. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1700782

  • Grob, K. (2018). Mineral oil hydrocarbons in food: A review. Food Additives & Contamination: Part A, 35(9), 1845-1860. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2018.1488185

  • Guillard, V., Gaucel, S., Fornaciari, C., Angellier-Coussy, H., Buche, P., & Gontard, N. (2018). The next generation of sustainable food packaging to preserve our environment in a circular economy context. Frontiers in Nutrition, 5, Article 121. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2018.00121

  • Hammett, A. L., Youngs, R. L., Sun, X., & Chandra, M. (2001). Non-wood fiber as an alternative to wood fiber in chinas pulp and paper industry. Holzforschung, 55(2), 219-224. https://doi.org/10.1515/HF.2001.036

  • Hamouda, T., Hassanin, A. H., Saba, N., Kilic, M. D. A., Candan, Z., & Jawaid, M. (2019). Evaluation of mechanical and physical properties of hybrid composites from food packaging and textiles wastes. Journal of Polymers and the Environment, 27, 489-497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-019-01369-3

  • Hamzah, N., Tokimatsu, K., & Yoshikama K. (2019). Solid fuel from oil palm biomass residues and municipal solid waste by hydrothermal treatment for electrical power generation in Malaysia: A review. Sustainability, 11(4), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11041060

  • Ibrahim, R., Jasmani, L., Kong, H. W., & Yusoff, M. N. H. (2007). Commercial-scale production of soda pulp and medium paper from oil palm empty fruit bunches. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 19(3), 121-126.

  • Kibblewhite, R. P., Riddell, M. J. C., & Shelbourne, C. J. A. (2000). Variation in wood, kraft fibre, and handsheet properties among 29 trees of Eucalyptus regnans, and comparison with E.Nitens and E.Fastigata. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science, 30(3), 458-474.

  • Kim, D. S., Sung, Y. J., Kim, C. H., & Kim, S. B. (2016). Changes in the process efficiency and product properties of pulp mold by application of oil palm efb. Palpu Chongi Gisul. Journal of Korea Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 48(1), 67-74. https://doi.org/10.7584/ktappi.2016.48.1.067

  • Laville, S., & Smithers, R. (2018, April 26). UK supermarkets launch voluntary pledge to cut plastic packaging. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/26/uk-supermarkets-launch-voluntary-pledge-to-cut-plastic-packaging

  • Marsh, K., & Bugusu, B. (2007). Food packaging - Roles, materials, and environment issues. Journal of Food Science, 72, 39-55

  • Munro, I. C., Haighton, L. A., Lynch, B. S., & Tafazoli, S. (2009). Technological challenges of addressing new and more complex migration products from novel food packaging materials. Good Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess, 12, 1534-1546.

  • National Agricultural Library. (2014). Develop a post-market test for recycled food contact materials (Final report: FS241007). U.S. Department of Agriculture.

  • Or, K. H., Putra, A., & Selamat, M. Z. (2017). Oil palm empty fruit bunch fibres as sustainable acoustic absorber. Applied Acoustics, 119, 9-15.

  • Porter, J. (2018, August 12). Wrapper’s delight: eco-friendly plastic alternatives. The Caterer. https://www.thecaterer.com/articles/534918/wrappers-delight-eco-friendly-plastic-alternatives

  • TAPPI TEST Methods. (1994a). Forming handsheets for physical tests of pulp. TAPPI Press.

  • TAPPI TEST Methods. (1994b). Physical testing of pulp handsheets. TAPPI Press.

  • TAPPI TEST Methods. (1994c). Freeness of pulp (Canadian standard method). TAPPI Press.

  • Taylor, M. (2018, February 28). World’s first plastic-free aisle opens in Netherlands supermarket. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/feb/28/worlds-first-plastic-free-aisle-opens-in-netherlands-supermarket

  • UNEP. (2018). Single-use plastics: A roadmap for sustainability. United Nations Environment Programme.

  • Wever R., & Twede D. (2007). The history of molded fiber packaging: A 20th century pulp story. In Proceedings of the 23rd IAPRI symposium on packaging (pp. 1-8). Pira International.

  • Zhaohua, Z., Chunqian, J., Maogong, Z., & Huafu, W. (1998). Status, trends and prospects for non-wood and recycled fibre in China. Asia-pacific forestry towards 2010. Asia-Pacific Forestry Sector Outlook Study Working Paper Series (FAO).

ISSN 0128-7702

e-ISSN 2231-8534

Article ID

JST-2648-2021

Download Full Article PDF

Share this article

Recent Articles