STI Group produces silphie packaging for Lidl and Kaufland
Lidl and Kaufland are promoting the use of innovative packaging made with locally grown silphie plant fibre.
PreZero, the environmental division of Schwarz Group, has spearheaded a sustainable packaging solution developed in partnership with its OutNature brand and packaging expert STI Group. ’The fact that cress packaging made from silphie paper is now being used in Lidl and Kaufland stores fills us with a certain pride,’ says Jakob Rinninger, CEO of STI Group. ’Through a development partnership with OutNature, our inhouse materials lab has been exploring the technical properties of silphie material since late 2020.
Pioneering tests have examined every facet of its production performance, from printability and varnishability to laminating and die-cutting. Silphie material has proven itself and can now be used in cardboard or corrugated board format for making packaging and displays.’ Silphie material is already suitable for direct food contact, while further research into coatings could enhance its barrier properties against water and fats.
STI Group’s strategic approach is centred on sustainable innovation. The company’s Circular Innovation philosophy embraces the testing of renewable new materials such as silphie paper. ’We are breaking completely new ground with our customers to bring greater sustainability to the packaging and POS sectors. Only by working closely together can these innovations be brought to production maturity quickly and successfully; this silphie project is a perfect example,’ says Rinninger.
Both Lidl and Kaufland are now phasing in the innovative solution for fruits and vegetables – starting with cress. Organic cress in silphie packaging has been available in Lidl stores since Monday 8 November, initially in southern Germany, and will shortly make an appearance in all Kaufland branches across Germany. This is just the start: organic tomatoes, apples and mushrooms will soon follow suit at Kaufland and there is even potential for expansion to other national retailers.
