Crush Grape is the ecological paper made with by-products of wine processing by Favini.
The processing of grapes for wine production generates different types of by-products. These can become an opportunity for the economy and the environment and they are used in different industrial sectors, according to the principles of circular economy.
During the harvest, the grapes are gathered from the vineyards and then transformed into wine. The residue from the first processing of the grapes is called the marc, a by-product deriving from the grape pressing. The marc is recovered and used to produce distillates.
During the distillation process other by-products are generated: grape seeds and de-alcoholised marc. Grape seed oil is obtained from the remaining grape seeds, whilst the de-alcoholised marc is used as a filler for animal feed.
After the different processing steps, the de-alcoholised marc, i.e. the residue deriving from the pressing of the grape bunches and their subsequent production processes, is dried and is then micronized by Favini. The resulting flour is then mixed with water and natural fibres to produce a unique ecological paper: Crush Grape which is made at Favini’s dedicated mill site in Rossano Veneto.
Thanks to Favini’s innovative process, the by-products of wine processing save 15% virgin fibre and become a precious alternative raw material.
At this point Crush paper can be used and converted to create various applications, such as luxury packaging and catalogues, coordinated imagery, labels, invitations and notebooks. These final products will continue on to further lives, if properly recycled.
The Favini R&D lab is always looking for new sustainable solutions in line with the principles of the circular economy.
The most recent example is the new material developed by Avery Dennison for wine labels using Crush Grape as the facestock, which has a special treatment for wet resistance.