Raffia sacks gain market share

Until recently, it was common to hear news about grains and other products that were stored incorrectly and were lost due to humidity and pest attacks. But the advancement of technology combined with sustainability allowed polypropylene bags, known as raffia, to gain market share.

Among the advantages of the raw material used in manufacturing is low moisture absorption combined with mechanical resistance, preventing the loss of packaged material. “Thanks to the resistance of its material, deaeration occurs more quickly and there is no risk of tearing the bag. Compared to conventional paper or plastic bags, raffia has many more competitive advantages, including reuse depending on the type of material packaged”, explains Serrana Embalagens Commercial Manager, Eduardo Barbosa.

Having been in the market for 20 years, the company from Espírito Santo has followed developments in the manufacturing process from conventional, welded, laminated and nano-perforated bags. Each of these characteristics allows use in line with the material to be transported.

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And regardless of size, raffia is the most suitable material. So-called big bags are flexible containers for transporting small, medium and large volumes that can be used to store any type of powder, granulate or even liquids, with maximum safety, resistance and malleability. The agribusiness sector stands out in terms of use, but interest has also grown in sectors that work with fertilizers, ore and food.

Very economical, easy to handle, transport and store, these packages are used to transport or store any type of product. They also have protection against UV rays.

Depending on the customer's needs, there is the possibility of different types of handling and loading. It is possible to find loading and unloading valves suitable for internal operating use, with a standardized or reinforced handle, the material can be recyclable and for different volumes and can be made to order for any type of business.

Since 2015, Embrapa has updated the standard which proves that the use of plastic packaging was suitable for packaging seeds, which is why raffia continues to gain space in crops, including coffee.

Another proof of this growth was released by Afipol. In 2017 alone, 180 thousand tons of raffia were processed and sold. And the use is basically in two segments: bags with 61% and big bags with 39%, with the former being used mainly for the storage and transport of fertilizers, sugar, feed, flour/bran. “We also see this growth in the Espírito Santo market and we believe it will continue like this in the coming years”, concludes Eduardo Barbosa.