Once a month in our category on Crush, Paperpapers explains the life cycle of the agri-industrial by-products that are used in the model of a circular economy to produce paper. This piece tells the story of how paper is made using the by-product given off in the industrial processing of the almond.
The almond is classified as a Tree nut which is basically the seed of certain fruit-bearing trees as compared to peanuts, which are actually legumes.
The Almond Story: Vegan Milk and Super Food
The almond is one of the world’s best sources of vitamin E. It is highly nutritious in healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It is native to Iran and surrounding countries in the middle east from where it was spread by humans in ancient times along the shores of the Mediterranean into northern Africa and southern Europe, and more recently to other parts of the world, notably California, with the US now the world’s biggest producer. It is used to produce almond (non-dairy) milk, oil, butter, flour, or paste known as marzipan.
In 2018, global production of almonds stood at 3.2 million tonnes, with the United States providing 59% of the number. Other leading producers, mainly Spain, Iran, and Morocco, contributed a combined 18% of the global output.
The fruit of the almond is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the edible seed, which is not a true nut inside. Neither the hull nor the shell is of much use, and with species yielding between 65% to 32% of edible seed per nut, a significant amount of by-product is generated during processing.
From Shell to Paper
Until the Favini initiative, the almond hull and shell were good for little else besides serving as cattle feed and fuel for power generation plants.
The company’s manufacture of crush paper basically follows along with the principle of the circular economy, in which the by-products from the processing of a cash crop are used to manufacture other high quality and eco-sustainable products.
Favini is an Italy-based paper mill that is driving the global change towards sustainable and eco-friendly production in the paper industry.
The company has found a way to recover the shell of the almond and convert it into valuable raw material for the production of high-quality ecological Crush Almond paper, thereby converting an otherwise linear process into a circular one.
The hull/shell of the almond is micronized and added to the mix of ingredients for paper production, replacing up to 15% of tree cellulose.
A Milky Future for Paper
The Crush almond paper can then be used in the production of various paper-based items, including luxury packaging, catalogs, labels, brand collateral, notebooks, invitations, corporate identity suites: from folders, business cards, envelopes, and the Dupont brochure, and other creative projects.
And thanks to recent advancements in recycling, the cherry crush paper, which is nearly 100% recyclable, will continue in successive production cycles according to the concept of the circular economy model that seeks to conserve energy and natural resources.
Crush Almond Paper is available online and in-store at Paperpapers, the accredited distributor of Favini crush paper stock in North America.
More on Crush Paper
Crush is an eco-friendly range of papers by Favini, made by replacing up to 15% of virgin tree pulp with the process residues of organic products.
Crush paper includes by-products from citrus fruits, grapes, cherries, lavender, orange, olives, coffee, kiwi fruit, hazelnuts, and almonds. These natural raw materials are saved from landfills and used to make these distinctive and vivid papers.
Click here to read more about Favini crush paper, the revolution in sustainable and eco-friendly paper manufacture.
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