BIODEGRADABLE AN ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR FOR FOODS

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a paper material whose pulp consists, at least in part, of a fibrous material of vegetable origin coming from the refuse material of the food industry, for the manufacture of food containers, such as trays.

Description: Biodegradable And Environmentally Acceptable Containers, In Particular For Foods The present invention refers to the use of paper materials which are biodegradable and environmentally acceptable, for manufacturing containers, and to the containers made of such materials. The waste disposal, especially as regards domestic waste, is becoming more and more an urgent problem which cannot be ignored or dealt with superficially. It has been widely demonstrated that there is a limit beyond which the industrial society is not able to dispose of its waste: on one hand there is a limit to the capacity and size of dumping sites and on the other hand there is a limit to the inhabitants acceptance of incinerators. In addition, such incinerators are still in an insufficient number and also a lot of them are not properly working and cause serious damages to the environment. Packages are, in particular, a large part of the domestic waste to be eliminated. Considering that the '93 annual output of packages in Italy, was 12,5 millions of tons and more than 7 millions ended in dumping sites at the end of their very short life, it is evident that it is necessary and urgent to act on the sources either trying to reduce the quantity of packages or manufacturing them in a not polluting and more easily disposable material. The object of the present invention is to provide a valid alternative to the containers, such trays, receptacles used in the agroindustrial sector wherein the undisputed leaders are polystirene and other plastic materials, or even worse laminated materials. Recent studies show that these containers may be not completely non-toxic. The subject invention of the present patent application provides a new alternative to the containers on plastic materials which are not degradable in the dumping sites, and when eliminated in the incinerators cause serious damages to the environment. Besides, from the point of view of the handiness they are very rigid, bulky and little appreciated by the consumers. Papers, whose pulp consists in part of food residues of vegetable origin instead of pure or recycled cellulose are known and commercially available. Such papers are for example the seaweed paper obtained from seaweed (EP-A- 0565920) and the sugar-beet paper obtained from sugar-beet residues (EP-A-0644293) . Till now, such papers have been used only for stationary or shopping bags. The present invention refers to the use of paper materials whose pulp consists, at least in part, of fibrous materials of vegetable origin coming from the refuse matter of the food industry, for the manufacture of containers. Such papers are for example the citrus paper obtained from citrus peels, in particular lemon peels, the sugar beet paper or sugar paper, obtained from processing residues of sugar beet, the maize paper obtained from maize plants or their parts. A further object of the present invention are containers made of a paper material consisting, at least in part, of a fibrous material of vegetable origin coming from the refuse material of the food industry. The containers according to the present invention can have various shapes and sizes according to the envisaged use, in particular they have the shape of trays of various sizes. Obviously the containers of the present invention, intended for containing food products, shall be in a suitable form in order to contain the various foods in the most appropriate way and in accordance with the law in force. In the drawing a typical example of a container in the shape of a tray according the present invention was represented in a plant view (Fig. 1), a front elevation view (Fig. 2), a side elevation view (Fig. 3), and a prospective view (Fig. 4) respectively. The container represented in the figure is only a non-limiting example because the container shape can vary according to the specific requirements of the market. The containers of the present invention present some advantages in comparison with the containers known in the art such as the plastic containers because they have not adverse effects on the environment, whatever the way of disposal may be, they are completely non toxic and therefore suitable for containing foods. Furthermore they have a positive impact on consumers because they take up little room after use, thanks to their easy pliability and because the consumer appreciates the fact that such food containers derive themselves from food materials. The methods for producing the packages of the invention are known to the person skilled in the art. The containers of the invention in the form of trays can be manufactured by thermoforming drawing. Suitably equipped machines such as the usual drawing presses are utilized for this purpose. The feed-stock is fed into the machine from a roll or a stack of die-cutted and creased sheets. The massive machine frame, a stout platen joined to powerful connecting rods, the drawing gear and a heavy flywheel provide a considerable power during pressing. The paper or cardboard of various thickness is drawn inside the machine wherein, by the applied pressure and thanks to dies heated by electrical plates takes the desired shape. The machine is provided with an electronic device adjusting the pressing times, allowing the drawing of papers/cardboards of different thickness.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Use of a paper material whose pulp consists, at least in part, of a fibrous material of vegetable origin coming from the refuse material of the food industry, for the manufacture of food containers, such as trays. 2. Use of a paper material according to claim 1 wherein such paper material is maize paper, citrus paper or sugar beet paper. 3. A food container made of a paper material whose pulp consists, at least in part, of a fibrous material of vegetable origin coming from the refuse material of the food industry. 4. A package according to claim 3 wherein such paper material is maize paper, citrus paper or sugar beet paper.

Inventors: TANDIN PATRIZIA, TANDIN, PATRIZIA
Applicants: TANDIN PATRIZIA, TANDIN, PATRIZIA
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B65D65
IPC codes: B65D1, B65D65