In Ukraine, another startup is booming, aimed at reducing the number of products that are dangerous to the environment. This time, promising businessmen paid attention to plastic disposable tableware, or rather, the possibility of producing its analogues. To bring the idea to life, they are separated by the smallest thing - the need to build a special factory for disposable tableware and purchase an innovative line for the production of disposable eco-tableware. While our neighbors have a court case, Russia has already launched the production of such products. Tells "Zeus-Group".

The idea of ​​​​producing environmentally friendly dishes

Vitaliy Koval is a young businessman from Kyiv. He already has his own small business, but now he has set his sights on a serious startup that requires considerable investment. He plans to launch his own disposable tableware factory, and not just any, but environmentally friendly tableware. It will be a complete alternative to plastic plates and cups, which the market is flooded with today, as well as landfills. Such disposable eco-ware absolutely does not harm the environment, and when disposed of, it decomposes into harmless components within a matter of weeks, turning into fertilizer.

As the author of the idea himself says, he was inspired by his native landscapes to produce ecological dishes. During his frequent trips around the country, he sees how much straw after grain harvesting is left to simply rot in the fields, not being used in any way. And this is one of the main types of raw materials for the production of disposable eco-tableware. In addition, the gradual abandonment of harmful plastic containers will improve the environmental situation in the country.

Technology for the production of disposable eco-tableware

If we remove all the details and turn to the very essence of the technology, then disposable eco-ware is obtained by soaking straw, evaporating moisture and pressing the remaining material, by giving it the desired shape.
Vitaliy Koval, along with straw, plans to process for the production of environmentally friendly dishes potato starch, sunflower husk and other natural materials.

For this you need modern plant disposable tableware with special equipment. According to the businessman, he has already found a company that is ready to supply the complete production line for only $300,000. Another 200 thousand will be required for the construction of the plant itself, the arrangement land plot, adjacent territory and connection of the object to communications.

The production line will grind the raw material to a homogeneous consistency, and then make a plastic, harmless mass from it. It is she who will be used to fill the molds and produce environmentally friendly dishes.

The entrepreneur plans to seek money from investors, offering them a share of the shares of the future enterprise in return.

Ecological tableware in Russia

While in Ukraine, disposable ecological tableware is just a dream of a startup, in Russia it is a very real product that is in demand by many customers.

This is absolutely the same dishes as plastic - light, strong enough, withstanding low and high temperatures having a low cost and aesthetic appearance. Therefore, they accepted the novelty well, without even delving into the details. And the fact that it is environmentally friendly dishes has become just one more of its indisputable advantages. Disposable eco-ware from straw turns out a little darker, and ecological dishes from starch - a little lighter. In all other respects, it is a uniformly colored monophonic product without any unsightly inclusions. By the way, suitable for applying company logos.

Top best examples of eco-friendly tableware

Disposable tableware factories and simply environmentally friendly developments have long ceased to produce just dishes. In the arsenal of every major company there is, if not a product line, then at least one concept model of an original and bright eco-friendly tableware. Zeus-Group cites only a few of them as interesting examples.

South Korea introduces bamboo tableware

Under the Frybest brand, very bright and stylish dishes are produced. The collection contains a variety of items that can only be presented on modern kitchen. The dishes can be used an unlimited number of times, and if you dispose of them by throwing them into compost, they will turn into fertilizer in a couple of months.

China introduces sugar dishes

This is a full-fledged environmentally friendly dish that can be used like ordinary porcelain plates: pour hot soup into them, heat in the microwave, freeze, wash in dishwasher. At the same time, the design remains on top - these are bright and attractive items needed in the kitchen, there are even specially designed children's collections.

Italy introduces corn dishes

Ecological tableware made from corn has a very interesting texture. If you look very carefully, you can see individual inclusions of small particles. The material for all items is a homogeneous mass, which is prepared from bamboo and corn, and then under high pressure pressed into molds. Elegant outlines, pleasant colors, interesting solutions.

Finland introduces pine tableware

Only for its manufacture, not a whole tree is used, but a special mass consisting of crushed pine fibers. Thanks to this, all objects are very elegant, durable, and have a wide variety of shapes and outlines. Such dishes are absolutely environmentally friendly, have a small weight and do not require special care.

Even well-known retail chains and fast food companies operating in the take-away format have picked up the baton of using disposable eco-tableware. Starbucks, for example, has ditched iconic paper cups to save forests. Customers are now offered a thermoformed reusable plastic cup made from 100% recyclable material.

The future of disposable eco-tableware in Russia

For the first time, Russians, and then the inhabitants of the USSR, learned about disposable tableware a little more than 30 years ago. Guests from other countries who came to Moscow for the Olympics brought with them the technological innovations of a civilized society - disposable paper cups. Kvass from barrels, drinks in buffets and cafeterias began to be offered in dishes unusual for a Soviet person.
They took it apart with pleasure, used it for its intended purpose, but then, instead of an urn, they carried it home to wash it and continue to use it. When the Olympics died down, many discoveries and revelations again had to be forgotten for an indefinite period. So disposable tableware returned to us only after 10 years and has already firmly entered everyday life.

It is no longer possible to part with it again, even for the sake of improving the environmental situation. Therefore, the only option is to gradually replace, as it turned out, harmful plastic disposable tableware, both for human health and the environment, with safe, environmentally friendly dishes.

People have been using disposable tableware for a long time. However, mass production of dishes at one time appeared after the invention of appropriate equipment and materials. Today, the disposable tableware market in Russia looks quite stable. After the economic downturn in 2009, supply and demand have stabilized. Of course, the annual growth of 25%, as at the beginning of the 2000s, is no longer there, but nevertheless, the turnover remains high and the growth was 10-15%. The main factor influencing the disposable tableware market is domestic production. Already after the introduction of high trade duties (comprising about 50% of the cost of production), the domestic market began to rise, as if by leaps and bounds. Currently, there are about 100 manufacturers operating on the market, of which there are large ones, although less than a dozen, the growth rate does not exceed 12% per year. Perhaps, in the last three years it has been about 8-10% (some sources say about 6-7%). One of the most famous companies producing disposable tableware in Russia is Huhtamaki (a transnational company with subsidiaries in Finland, Poland, Italy, Germany, Great Britain). Her clients include McDonald's, Pepsi and Nestle, among others.

The share of imports of disposable tableware in our country is small. The main importers in addition to Huhtamaki (share - 18%) are Dopla S.P.A (Poland) and RPC Tedeco-Gizeh Kft (Hungary, Poland) - their shares are respectively 15.4 and 12.1% of imports.
The main materials for disposable tableware are plastics (polymeric materials) and paper. The ratio is 88-89 to 11-12%, respectively (diagram 1). More than 40% of all disposable tableware are cups. Plates account for about 30% and cutlery for about 22% (diagram 2).

Over the past 3-5 years, the share of disposable premium plastic tableware has increased significantly. These are original wine glasses, coffee cups and other utensils of exquisite design. If at the end of 2009 the share of such tableware in the total market amounted to no more than 3%, then by 2015, experts note its increase to 5-7% (according to various estimates).
Transportation of ready-made disposable tableware is unprofitable, therefore, more than half of the sales that accounted for 5-7 years ago in Moscow have been reduced; The market is developing quite rapidly in the regions. However, the growth of energy tariffs in recent years has been a deterrent.

Demand is maintained mainly due to new types of products, which include: straws for cocktails and juice made of hard plastic of a wide variety of colors and shapes, tablecloths, original designs of familiar dishes, dishes with images of characters from fairy tales and cartoons (popular among children), as well as dishes with various inscriptions.

Experts note that each type of tableware has its own period of the most active sales. For example, 200 ml polystyrene glasses are actively sold from April to September, 500 ml glasses are sold from May to July. A cup of coffee and glasses made of polypropylene are in demand in cold weather

One of the most famous manufacturers of biodegradable tableware is Wasara (Japan). Among the leaders offering biodegradable tableware in Russia, the Geovita company (St. Petersburg) is well known. Its arsenal includes disposable and reusable products (including dishes) made from raw materials of plant origin: wheat straw, bamboo fiber, sugar cane, palm leaves. Today, such products can be purchased in the chains: Azbuka Vkusa, Perekrestok, Globus Gourmet, Fix Price, etc. Picneco (Moscow Region) and Ecovilka (Russia) offer packaging and dishes from the same raw materials. There are a lot of manufacturers of plastic disposable tableware, for example, Introplastik (Orel), Atlas (Nizhny Novgorod), Alkor (Magnitogorsk). There are even more sellers, for example, Plast Mix LLC, Trial Market LLC, Pakstar Service LLC, Dezsnab-Trade LLC, etc.

The cost of a plastic disposable tableware business

It is believed that entering the market for a new manufacturer of disposable plastic tableware will cost at least $500,000. But in reality, this is just the price of a new high-quality extruder made in Western Europe. If you are content with inexpensive used equipment, the cost of it will be $80-120 thousand. Plus, you need to purchase thermoforming machines (two, and preferably three) - each for $30-40 thousand.
So, the cheapest option will cost from $160,000 to $180,000. But in this case, you will have to constantly bear significant costs for setting up and repairing equipment. That's not all. Theoretically, an extruder and two thermoforming machines should produce about 8 million cups per month. This is enough for a city with a population of 2-3 million people and an income of about $15,000. But this is only theoretical. In fact, the costs are much higher and the income is lower. In addition, it is necessary to invest in infrastructure and have a financial cushion in case something goes wrong. Typically, these costs are estimated at least as much as the cost of the purchased equipment, that is, from $200,000 to $500,000.

Plate manufacturers have a big problem selling them nine months of the year (except summer), so manufacturers usually also produce food containers, coffee cups or glasses made of polypropylene.
Disposable tableware is actively consumed by:
fixed catering outlets -42%, population when going on picnics - 25%, open cafeterias - 20%, catering companies (lunch delivery) - 5%, restaurants, cafes - 5%, vending companies and salad producers, bakery producers - 3% (diagram 3). Experts suggest that the share of consumption of disposable tableware by catering companies will increase, since the catering segment has been mastered by no more than a third of its potential.
At the same time, the growth rate is about 15-20% per year (catering is in demand in any season: parties, gala dinners and other events are popular from January to March; from March to the end of May - the period of mass corporate events; in the summer months, this can be add weddings, picnics, outdoor recreation; autumn months- not the most active period, mainly filled with mass events organized by large companies, such as one-day trips, sports, excursions, etc.). The highest demand for catering companies comes in December, closer to new year holidays It is, as they say, a classic.
So, we see a fairly successful development of the market, where almost all the traditions and new designs are in the hands of plastic tableware manufacturers. Today, with all the shortcomings of such dishes, it is very difficult to find an alternative solution. However, the world does not stand still and more and more often we learn about the spread of dishes that are considered safe from an environmental point of view and do not cause problems with disposal (which, unfortunately, cannot be said about plastic).
The wide filling of the natural environment with waste polymer products that have been preserved for centuries has led to the development of scientific areas, which are tasked with creating an alternative to plastic utensils. First of all, we are talking about products designed for the fast food segment and catering establishments (cafes, bistros, etc.). It is this area that is among the leaders in the consumption of food plastics.

A number of manufacturing companies have turned to paper. In this segment, Huhtamaki became the leader in production (in Russia - LLC Huhtamaki S.N.G., located in the Moscow region). But, given the cost of wood, the restoration of which is extremely slow on the planet, the price of paper utensils did not suit most buyers. As a result, polystyrene utensils continued to lead in terms of purchases. Unfortunately, in addition to not harmless production and disposal problems, it is not designed for hot food, as well as alcoholic products, and cannot be in contact with dishes containing food acids for a long time.
In all these cases, such dishes release toxic substances into the external environment, which tend to accumulate in the body, and later lead to a deadly ending. Today, the so-called biodegradable tableware is gaining momentum. The raw materials for such dishes are crushed vegetable fibers, such as bamboo, cork, wood, palm leaves, etc., and starch, such as corn, is used as a binder. After molding and drying such dishes, products of sufficient rigidity are obtained, which serve faithfully for a long period, and when they become unusable, they can safely (without residues and harmful emissions) decompose in the natural environment.

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ABBREVIATION OF PLASTICS

In 1988, the Plastics Industry Society developed a labeling system for all types of plastics. It consists of three arrows in the shape of a triangle, inside which is a number indicating the type of plastic. If the number 1 is on the bottle in a triangle, and PET is written under it, this means that it is made of polyethylene terephthalate.
This raw material is recognized as dangerous for food use. to disposable plastic cups must be treated very carefully. If the Latin letters PS are applied to them, it means that the vessel is made of polystyrene. You can drink cold drinks from it, but hot tea or coffee (with a temperature of +70 ° C and above) is not worth it. The same effect, if you pour a strong drink, such as vodka, into a polystyrene vessel.
Styrene accumulated in the body stimulates the development of liver cirrhosis. Polystyrene is used in the manufacture of building insulation boards, food packaging, cutlery and cups, CD boxes and other packaging (food film and foam), toys, dishes, pens, and so on. The material is potentially hazardous, especially in case of fire, because it contains styrene.
Polypropylene utensils (PP marking) are safer. It withstands temperatures up to +100 °C. Officially, polystyrene is considered safe for food use. But again, doctors do not recommend drinking from "polystyrene" - you can disrupt the functioning of the kidneys and even go blind, which will be facilitated by the phenol released from the glass. It is used in the automotive industry (equipment, bumpers), in the manufacture of toys, as well as in the food industry, mainly in the manufacture of packaging.
If there is no marking on the plastic, you can distinguish PS from PP by touch: polystyrene crunches and breaks, and polypropylene is wrinkled.
PETE or PET- polyethylene terephthalate. Commonly used for mineral water bottles, soft drinks and fruit juices, packaging, blisters, upholstery. Such plastics are potentially hazardous for food use.
PEHD or HDPE- high density polyethylene. Some bottles, flasks, and more generally semi-rigid packaging. Considered safe for food use.
PVC or PVC- polyvinyl chloride. Used for pipes, tubes, garden furniture, in floor coverings, for window profiles, blinds, bottles detergents and oilcloths. The material is potentially hazardous for food use as it may contain dioxins, bisphenol A, mercury, cadmium.
LDPE and PEBD- low density polyethylene. Tarpaulins, garbage bags, bags, films and flexible containers. Considered safe for food use.
OTHER or O- others. This group includes any other plastic that cannot be included in the previous groups. Polycarbonate is non-toxic to the environment.

Distinctive features of the Russian market of disposable tableware

- The domestic market of plastic tableware, including disposable, despite the large amount of goods on the shelves of supermarkets, is mastered by no more than 40-45%. - Over the past 2-3 years, there has been an increase in the segment of paper products in the disposable tableware market due to their environmental friendliness and ease of disposal.
- The demand for plastic, including disposable tableware, has a pronounced seasonality, therefore, in order to avoid equipment downtime in the autumn-winter time, it is necessary to develop various sales directions (wholesale and retail networks, public catering, catering enterprises).
- When choosing disposable tableware, consumers prefer original design(possibility to select sets in one color scheme, thematic images for various holidays, etc.).
- The entry threshold for the manufacturer is quite high. Used equipment does not justify the investment, because constant breakdowns lead to losses and loss of time, which affects the delivery time... It is difficult to modernize old equipment due to the lack of components.

Biodegradable disposable tableware is suitable for both cold foods and drinks and hot ones. It does not break, does not burn hands and eliminates re-use. For the manufacture of disposable eco-ware, only natural plant materials are used. Large global fast food companies have completely abandoned disposable plastic tableware and switched exclusively to paper and biodegradable tableware. Bioware differs from plastic not only in the absence of a harmful effect on the human body, but also in its more aesthetic appearance. It is pleasant to the touch, tougher and, unlike plastic, does not break so quickly; when using hot food, it does not heat up so quickly, which means it does not burn your hands.

The disadvantage of such dishes so far is the high cost of its manufacture, which primarily affects the price for the end user. It should be noted that today, dishes made from biodegradable raw materials can not only be used for single purposes, but also be reusable. For example, the company Drivix offers just environmentally friendly biodegradable tableware for reusable bamboo.
The difference between reusable biodegradable tableware and disposable tableware lies in the manufacturing technology and various additives. Disposable tableware from renewable natural raw materials is made according to a simplified scheme without the addition of a number of components. This leads to lower prices.

Considering the types of disposable tableware on the market today, it is worth noting that any tableware serves its purpose and requires right conditions production, storage, use and disposal. Failure to comply with the requirements leads to extremely adverse consequences affecting the environment and the wallet of both the manufacturer and the end consumer.

The prospects for the market are huge, especially in connection with the opening of a new direction, represented by biodegradable products from renewable natural raw materials! The demand for tableware can be higher if the following conditions are met:
- the general growth of the general culture of consumers (in this regard, manufacturers can remind you of proper disposal by direct, visible text on the packaging or the dishes themselves);
- creation of new tableware, whose use is slightly dependent on seasonal fluctuations and allows you to comfortably use such dishes at home.

Manufacturers of disposable tableware during periods of decline in consumer demand need to use existing equipment for the manufacture of other popular products. Many people use these methods manufacturing companies, whose range is focused on different market segments at the same time.

About the production of plastic tableware

All technologies for the production of disposable plastic tableware can be reduced to two main methods:
molding (products of mass market class);
molded (premium class).
The raw material for manufacturing is polyester, polypropylene or polystyrene. In some cases, exclusively primary raw materials are used in the form of granules, in others, only secondary raw materials are used in the form of recycled powder. But the most common is "wasteless" production, consisting of 70% primary and 30% secondary raw materials.

Forming technology

In the production by molding, the material goes through several stages - from pellets or crumbs to familiar products: cups, plates. Initially, the raw material is placed in an extruder, where, when heated and stirred, it acquires a liquid viscous consistency, which then enters the flat slot of the apparatus and is squeezed out in the form of a web (which is why the extruder is also called a flat-slit extruder).
Under the press, the fabric acquires a uniform thickness (about 2 mm), a certain width, and then the polypropylene tape is wound on a shaft in the form of a roll. After that, the bobbin is preheated in the oven, unwound, placed in special molds. Forming of dishes depends on the shape of the press, where the film hardens, acquiring a familiar look.
Under the pressure of the air jet, the cooled blank is blown out of the mold and enters the punching press, where the products are cleaned of excess elements. Waste (based on 1 ton of material 48% of products and 52% of "cuts") again enter the slot extruder (having previously passed the grinding stage) and the production cycle is repeated from the beginning.
And the finished dishes enter the conveyor, where their edges are formed, logos are applied (if necessary), stacks are added, counting and packaging are performed.

Casting technology

A similar production technology is used for the manufacture of dense disposable tableware: coffee cups, cutlery, containers for food products, wine glasses, etc. Unlike the previous method, not a plastic tape is placed in the molds, but a viscous heated mass, which, under pressure, takes the form of a finished product, cools and solidifies.
Dishes made using this method are thicker and more durable. Accordingly, her price category an order of magnitude higher than molding. If it is necessary to add colors to faceless plastic, at the stage of laying the raw materials, 1-2% of dyes that are safe for health are added to it.

Many people prefer to use eco-friendly disposable tableware. This type crockery is made from different types materials: wood, sugar cane, corn starch and palm leaves. To choose the most suitable eco-ware for you, you need to determine the purpose of its use:

1. What dishes will be served in eco dishes? All types are suitable for dry or wet, but soups and sauces are best served in ecological starch dishes.
2. How will the disposal take place? Public catering establishments in ecologically protected areas do not have the right to use plastic utensils, the production of starch and reed utensils is carried out with the addition of plastic (15-20%) - in this case, it is better to pay attention to eco-wood utensils.

The advantages of using birch and poplar tableware are easy disposal. You can bury or burn cutlery and plates, no need to take them to a landfill. Decomposition takes only 2 months.

Eco-ware store in Moscow

Candy Cake Exercises retail sales, and also offers disposable eco tableware wholesale from the manufacturer. You can request our wholesale prices from the manager by phone or by writing to us by mail. Choose!

There is a positive trend: there are more and more options for eco-friendly dishes that do not harm the environment. Plastic, on the contrary, is becoming less popular.

The problem with plastic utensils is that this material decomposes in the soil for several hundred years. Given the volumes of polymer materials that end up in landfills every day, the entire planet will soon be littered with an even layer of plastic and polyethylene. However, with proper processing, plastic is harmless. Plastic is recycled through incineration.

From eco-friendly dishes, for example, plates and cups made of paper, compressed cornstarch and sugar cane. All of these materials rot rather quickly in the soil, in addition, they provide additional soil fertilizer.

Let's talk about another eco-friendly material from which disposable tableware is made, we are talking about ordinary wheat straw.

The main advantage of this material is absolute naturalness, such plates and cups do not contain any harmful impurities. In addition, in the world there can be no shortage of straw in principle. Straw belongs to the so-called renewable materials: every year bread is sown, therefore, every year a huge amount of straw is formed, which is not used in any way.

Their straw dishes are versatile: you can heat food in a microwave oven in it, in addition, this material also tolerates low temperatures perfectly, therefore, it is suitable for storing food in the freezer.

Recycling straw dishes is not difficult, just throw it in the trash, there are no recycling companies yet.

Making dishes from wheat straw

Such dishes are made in the following way. First, the straw is crushed, as a result of which a homogeneous mass of cellulose is obtained. In some cases, other cereal plants may additionally be added.

Then the crushed raw material is distributed into molds and placed under the press. Consequence - the products are very, very durable, such dishes are never deformed.

The production of disposable tableware from wheat does not require much energy. Water, which is used for cooling, circulates through a closed office. Doing business in the manufacture of such dishes is a very profitable business.

It is difficult to imagine that in the coming years a technological revolution can occur in the furniture industry. We are accustomed to surround our life with natural materials - plastic scares away consumers with its "lifeless" properties. Chemists have not yet come up with a material that can replace wood.

The latest breakthrough in furniture production committed by the Germans at the start of World War II. Forced to save on resources, they invented a technology for the production of boards from wood waste. In terms of physical properties, these boards did not differ much from solid wood, but they significantly won at a price. After the victory, the liberating countries appreciated the economical and very convenient technology. By the 1960s, chipboard had become the most popular material in the furniture industry.

In 2004, Europe alone produced over 40 million cubic meters of chipboard. The main advantages of chipboard are low cost and comparative ease of processing. The boards are made from pressed large wood chips with the addition of a thermosetting synthetic resin as a binder. A full-fledged raw material for chipboard is any low-value wood, both coniferous and hardwood. Moreover, European producers maintain proportions - 80-90% of coniferous species and 10-20% of hardwoods. The global market for trade in wood-based panels will only be constrained by a shortage of raw material. In a certain sense, it already exists, the price of wood is constantly rising. The volume of deforestation is also on the rise.

Thank you bureaucracy

A Kazakh developer is about to break into this market order, which has been established for 50 years, with a statement that his technology will make a number of existing ways chipboard production unclaimed. "Delta Form" is the name of a new material that so far only exists in samples of a few square centimeters. These are high strength straw tiles. According to the author Vitaly Khen, his technology overcomes a number of shortcomings of popular chipboard, fiberboard: non-moisture resistance, the need for additional surface treatment, and the possibility of using it only in a closed environment. In addition, these plates may contain phenol harmful to humans.

The history of "Delta Form" began in the mid-80s at the Leningrad Forestry Academy, when Professor Gennady Tsarev found a unique binder for the filler - absolutely harmless organic matter.

As you know, the Soviet chipboard was of poor quality, largely due to non-compliance with the technology for preparing the filler. Soviet-made chippers produced chips of various shapes, while imported equipment quickly wore out due to the barbaric attitude to technology. The starting material did not adhere well and delami- nate during pressing.

The binder invented by Tsarev somewhat reduced the problem of poor-quality gluing of dissimilar chips. At this stage, Vitaly Khen joined the technology. We agreed that Tsarev is in charge of the scientific side, and a young specialist from Kazakhstan decides on administrative issues. To wedge a rationalization proposal into the national economy of the USSR required remarkable vigor. Soviet factories for the production of chipboard did not need a new binder in principle. They were afraid of the procedure for approving new GOSTs, changing technological cycles. The developers decided to promote technology in a detour under the slogan "Expenses into income!".

“I started to deal with this technology in 1989,” Vitaly Khen recalls. “Then private entrepreneurship was allowed, there was an acute shortage of building materials in the country. We calculated that the profitability of our chipboard production was somewhere around 800% at the market price. We had to find suppliers raw materials". Inventors focused on timber industry enterprises. They, as a rule, have a large percentage of waste: branches, bark, wood chips. "I went to the Vologda region to negotiate. The director of the farm said that they had no waste, despite the fact that huge rotting wood dumps are visible. And he explains that we must work according to waste-free technology, so we burn everything that remains. If you start producing something "Something from this garbage, then I will be fired or imprisoned," says Khen. "A similar situation was in other farms. Most of all I remember the conversation with the director of the pulp and cardboard plant in Kyzylorda. The plant used Russian timber as raw material, wood dumps were burned ", the smoke was all over the city. He offered to buy garbage from them, and the director answers, I won't let you, the bourgeoisie, earn on people's blood, and continued to poison the city with smoke."

Vitaly Khen had to look for other raw materials. The laboratory experimented with straw, but the results were poor: it often burned out under hot pressure. Tsarev's student suggested changing the binder and slightly changing the technology for preparing wood-based panels - they tested it on rice husks - the material turned out to be better in many physical parameters than chipboard. From that moment on, Hyun began to independently promote the "straw technology". In the USSR, agricultural waste was not actually disposed of.

"My technology requires straw with a high gluten content - it can be rice shawl, cereal stalks, cotton, in general, the main agricultural crops of Kazakhstan," the scientist says, "and a biocatalyst that turns a heterogeneous ground mass from straw into a single composition. After technological process the structure of the material differs from the structure of chipboard or fiberboard.

straw bomb

The material was approved by a council of experts. The technology was accepted at the Academy of Sciences, where "Delta Form" was ranked as a breakthrough technology. Among the testers of the "straw slab" was Doctor of Technical Sciences Nikolai Buktukov. "This material is three times stronger than currently known chipboard, environmentally friendly. It is made from waste (straw, husk), fireproof. It burns if only it is held over a flame. Lightweight, with good heat and sound insulation. In addition, it is approximately 2-3 times cheaper than analogues made of chipboard and fiberboard,” Mr. Buktukov enumerates the advantages of Delta Form.

In Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, chipboard and fiberboard are produced with a high content of reactive resins to ensure reliable gluing of wood filler. Clean methods for the production of wood-based panels (without phenol) are on average 60% more expensive. Moreover, the production of high-quality resins is one of the components of the price of the material. In "Delta Form" the price of the binder is determined only by the delivery from the field of garbage of little value from the point of view of agriculture. However, the filler itself has no nominal price. Now about ecology. In addition to "pure" consumer properties, the basis of the material is a rapidly renewable raw material - 1 year for a full recovery cycle, which cannot be said about classic boards, they somehow use wood, which takes thirty or more years to mature, and only part of the industrially mastered raw materials.

New physical properties In fact, the developer received wood material by violating the classical technological chain for the production of chipboard and fiberboard.

"Rinsing, drying are simple procedures, there is no yeast, no glue, a simple separation technology, no steaming. All processes seem to take place in one cycle - with hot pressure in a closed circuit. In the process of processing, the straw seems to burn out by half, resulting in a super-compacted half-ash structure, which, as a result, is not afraid of moisture. The material does not swell, since the entire fiber actually burns out, "explains Nikolai Buktukov. He believes that Delta Form can be used both as a roof and as walls.

"If you use this technology, then 1 square meter of housing European quality will cost no more than 100-150 dollars. Moreover, it is possible to build both one-story and multi-story buildings. The walls can be made from "Delta Form" - the outer and inner slabs, lay construction wool between them, the distance between the slabs is 5-7 centimeters. The plate itself is very smooth, almost like glass, which does not require special costs for finishing internal walls. The house will be durable, warm, environmentally friendly,” he says.

The new material also has technological superiority. What, in principle, neither chipboard nor fiberboard can give is the elasticity of the feedstock. "Before processing, the consistency itself behaves like plastic - it is absolutely flexible, which allows you to immediately stamp finished products of any shape from it: doors, window frames, chairs, dishes. You can even make disposable dishes with a thickness of 2 millimeters,” explains Vitaliy Khen.

Marketing outfit

The furniture industry of Kazakhstan is completely tied to the import of building materials from wood. Chipboard and fiberboard are purchased in Russia and Poland. According to Russian statistical authorities, Russian woodworking companies exported to Kazakhstan in 2004 31,356 cubic meters of chipboard. According to many furniture makers, it is unprofitable to produce their own plates - raw materials will still have to be imported. Only 4% of the republic's territory is occupied by forests, and only 1.8% is industrially suitable. Up to 70% of the required wood is imported. This puts local manufacturers at a disadvantage compared to Russian furniture makers. Domestic furniture makers have to work with more expensive material due to transportation costs, add also a customs duty of 15%.

"Delta Form", according to Vitaly Khen, is able to completely replace imported wood-based panels - they are cheaper. There is plenty of raw material base for mass production. About 15 million tons of wheat are grown annually in Kazakhstan. The stem to grain ratio is 3.5 to 1. Wheat alone can produce about 50 million tons of straw. From one cubic meter of finished raw materials, Khen's technology allows you to get about 100 square meters. m of material with a thickness of 10 millimeters. Only raw wheat has a production potential of 5 billion square meters. m of products.

"There is no need to build large factories, it is enough to launch mini-workshops with several lines with a capacity of 30-50 thousand square meters per year. Separately, launch lines for plates, doors, flooring. One line costs about 200-250 thousand dollars, taking into account a small alteration: my technology has a slightly different pressing system. Although if you produce your own equipment, initially it will cost less, there are technical solutions for the equipment," the inventor concludes.

Vitaly Khen prepared samples of his material on different equipment: in the laboratory of the Leningrad Academy, on factory machines, as well as at home using a blowtorch and homemade press. The technology has been worked out. True, Delta Form has not yet been produced on an industrial scale, but the author is sure that his product will sooner or later become the most popular material in the furniture industry.