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Australian company Papyrus has claimed to be the world's first carbon-neutral paper manufacturer, creating stock from banana trees using green production methods.

It said the trees' long-fibre composition makes them ideal for robust paper products and added that their one-year lifespan make them a waste product of banana plantations.

The company, which is looking to manufacture 100gsm and 250gsm grades, said the design output for a manufacturing line is 20,000 tonnes a year and that there is the potential for "many hundreds of lines". 

Papyrus chief operating office Grant Pigot told printweek.com: "There are more than 10m hectares of banana plantations growing around the world and each banana plant is capable of growing up to two trunks every year, ranging from 3m to 12m in height, depending upon plant type."

It said production per metric tonne costs less than 4% of that of pulped paper, while power consumption is lower than 1%.

PPigot told printweek.com: "The Papyrus Technology produces paper and board products at a fraction of the cost of traditional paper making methods as there is no chipping or pulping; the manufacturing line can be located close to raw materials and the process is highly energy efficient.

"Raw material transport costs are minimised and the process produces water as a by product. The banana tree trunk (the raw material feed stock) is an unutilised fibre resource produced as a by product of fruit production."

It added that its patented production process is similar to that used for plywood and that no chemicals are used.

"By virtue of its processes, its raw materials and its capacity to produce a carbon zero product to replace a carbon intense one, Papyrus appears likely to be able to create verifiable carbon emissions reduction units in its own right or on behalf of others," said Leonard Cohen from consultancy group Australian Carbon Biosequestration Initiative, which studied the process.

Additionally, the company claimed the paper may turn out to be carbon negative considering life cycle effects, such as the methane generated had the trees been left to rot down in fields.

The FSC said that while it has certified some rubber plantations, it does not consider banana plantations as forests and they would not be within its remit for certification.

The company is looking to bodies such as the UNFCCC Clean Development Mechanism for accreditation.

Papyrus chairman Dr David Wyatt said his company would have "a significant strategic impact on the global paper industry".