What is sugar cane?
What is sugar cane?
Sugarcane is a tropical grass that is cultivated around the world to produce refined sugar, sugarcane juice, and medicinal products for a range of illnesses.
Sugar cane is a type of grass with a bamboo-like jointed stem that grows up to five metres in height and five centimetres in diameter. Sugar cane is grown on large farms called plantations. In general, sugar cane is harvested in the cooler months in each hemisphere. Fresh sugar cane spoils rather quickly after harvest and must therefore be transported quickly to nearby processing mills to minimize deterioration.
What is sugar cane bagasse?
One of the best and most eco-friendly options is Bagasse. Bagasse is the waste from sugar cane plants left over after the sugar has been extracted. Originally used as a biofuel, the value of this material for the packaging industry has since been well explored. Bagasse is used to make a variety of food packaging items which include but is not limited to takeaway containers, plates and bowls. Bagasse also serves as a substitute for wood in some countries to produce pulp, paper and board. Not bad for a ‘waste’ product!
Not only are Bagasse packaging items better for the environment because they are biodegradable and compostable, they are aesthetically pleasing too!
Here are a few facts about Bagasse food packaging that’s useful to know:
- made from annually-renewable resources;
- biodegradable & compostable;
- chlorine-free.
Care and usage - bagasse is suitable for hot and cold foods and can tolerate heat up to 100 degrees celcius:
- suitable for hor & cold;
- freezer-safe;
- microwave-safe.
Composting & biodegradable - bagasse is both home and commercially compostable and can break down in as little as 4 weeks under the rigth conditions. Shredding bagasse products before composting it significantly speeds up this process. Bagasse starts breaking down when exposed to:
- moisture;
- heat;
- microorganisms.
Sugar cane baggase advantages:
- Very stable, robust and not easily bendable.
- Has good thermal characteristics.
- Water-resistant and greaseproof: Also suitable for hot and very oily or fatty dishes.
- Fully biodegradable and compostable.
- CO2 neutral disposal.