Sugarcane Bagasse – Biodegradable Compostable Cups, Plates, and Cutlery

According to Wikipedia, sugarcane grows well in temperate to tropical regions with more than 60 cm. of moisture per year.

It is indigenous to Asia, but today Brazil is by far the largest producer with about one-third of world production. India and China are two and three for production, followed by Thailand, Pakistan, Mexico, Colombia, Australia, Argentina, and the United States.

Currently, the market for paper products made from agricultural crops is at about 10%, the bulk of this being bagasse. There are many pros to using sugarcane bagasse for paper products over the alternatives. These include things like less deforestation, possibly lower greenhouse gas emissions, and fewer bleaching chemicals used in processing.

Cons to bagasse processing include heavy water requirements and difficult workplace environment, including harmful exposure to pulp fibers.

A full life cycle analysis of bagasse products needs to be completed for an accurate picture, although I do believe that the pros outweigh the cons in this case. The cons can be addressed to lessen their impact.