Tomato Plant Residues, a Sustainable Fiber Source for Cardboard Packaging

Cardboard packaging is a good example of sustainable material use, yet even more sustainable solutions are available, such as replacing wood fibers with those from alternative sources like agricultural waste. In our research, we produced paperboard from fibers obtained from waste tomato stems using a pilot paper machine, and its basic, surface, and mechanical properties were then determined. Additionally, we produced corrugated cardboard from the tomato fiber-based paperboard and analyzed its performance under different environmental conditions. A comparative analysis was made with commercial corrugated cardboard to determine the differences in mechanical properties and the quality of the prints made using the flexographic printing technique. The results indicated that the properties of tomato fiber-based paperboard and corrugated cardboard are sufficient for many packaging applications. Analyses showed that the mechanical properties of both commercial and corrugated cardboard produced from tomato stems were affected by the environmental conditions, while the change in print quality was minor. Exposure to high humidity had a much greater effect than exposure to low temperature. High humidity lowered the tensile and bursting strength and resistance to compression, resulting in decreased strength and stiffness, while low temperature had a less severe effect. Nevertheless, corrugated cardboard made from tomato-based paperboard can be used for storage of fresh produce locally, as well as for transport packaging, provided the transport box is designed to address its poor stacking strength. The print quality of this cardboard is also suitable for transport packaging, and the readability of the UHF RFID tags remains satisfactory. The findings of this study have significant implications for the development of sustainable materials. The successful use of tomato stems, a waste product from agriculture, in the production of corrugated cardboard supports the circular economy by turning waste into a valuable resource.