The project has involved two years' of research into the feasibility of the new product, Crown Native, with CVG looking into a number of different crops that had the potential to partially replace wood fibres.

The Netherlands-based papermaker will start selling the Crown Native paper at the beginning of next year.

CVG said that the use of 20% beet pulp, a by-product of Dutch agricultural cooperative Royal Cosun, would have several environmental benefits.

“Due to the local sourcing, far less transport is required. As a result, Crown Native realises a significant reduction in CO2 emissions and particulate matter formation. Moreover, by using beet pulp, the production process requires less water,” the firm stated.

Royal Cosun works with around 9,000 Dutch growers cultivating some 80,000 hectares of sugar beets. It is focused on “vegetable solutions for a sustainable future” including biomaterials.

“Beet pulp is often processed into animal feed or converted into biogas,” explained CVG chief executive Miklas Dronkers.

“But by using it in our paper, it becomes a high-value resource. And because we're using residual waste, no additional agricultural land is needed.”

Dronkers said the paper would be “a perfect fit” for brands interested in sustainability.

Crown Native is also FDA-compliant and suitable for food packaging. It will be available in 80 and 90gsm weights. The colour is described as "off white" with visible specks from the sugar beet shell. 

“This makes our sugar beet paper the ideal choice for product packaging, but also for shopping bags and promotional print,” he added.

Crown Van Gelder has been making paper for more than 120 years. Its product range includes papers for packaging, labels, transactional, publishing and promotional printing. The company has two paper machines and makes around 180,000 tonnes of paper per annum. 

It released its third generation Crown Letsgo Silk XF paper last month.