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 Post a “Patent Search” Adrian filed a patent application for “Paper Made from Organic Waste and the Process Thereof” in India on December 11, 2015. On the advice of his well-wishers who see an immense potential in converting winery waste to paper with multi-uses, he also worked on the process and documentation and applied for a global patent. His PCT application (Patent Cooperation Treaty) has been accepted on May 12, 2016 by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) and accepted by the European Patent Office, (EPO) (ISA/EP). (Details are with delWine for authentication purposes).
It is tree and chemical free paper, which is produced from 100% waste, uses up to 40% Pomace/Marc (grape waste) and the rest is other organic waste. From the Patent Search Report it appears that this paper is unique in nature, he says. ‘We have conducted values tests, developed some prototypes and are in the process of initiating “Carbon Certification” and I have been informed it looks promising,’ he tells delWine.
So how did he get the idea, I ask? ‘Over the last 4 years I started researching pomace, its uses and in the process stumbled on the composition of pomace. The fiber content in the pomace interested me. I also stumbled on paper made from various fibers and thought- why not pomace? Being too embarrassed to share the idea, the first batch of “Grape Paper” was produced in our kitchen, with the kitchen blender and some nets. I loved the color and texture of the paper. That was the beginning….When I discovered that pomace could be a possible replacement for wood in paper, it thrilled me no end,’ he says with a note of excitement in his voice.
He even enrolled for a course at IIM-A which helped in accelerating the project and he was advised to apply for a Patent.
Pinto started his stint with the wine industry working for Sula and Indage on the way to finally joining Pernod Ricard where he currently heads the Wine division as Senior Manager. That’s where he realized how important it was to protect the environment and the impact it had on not just the vineyards and wine but also the farmers and all living things in general.
That’s how he also got the idea for the project. Every bottle of wine uses 68-70% of the raw juice (most countries limit the pressing to a maximum of 70%). The 30% left is pomace which is usually thrown away. ‘10% are the grape seeds which are gradually being used to make grape seed oil which is used for food products, massages, cosmetics or bio-fuel. The remaining 90% goes waste and is used as landfill or compost’ he says. This has a lot of fiber. In fact, my interests arose from the fact that it has fiber. Currently, 32% of paper used globally is from wood, 30% from agro-based industry and the rest 38% from the recycled fiber. No grape fiber is used,’ he asserts and this is where he finds the usages.
‘There are many probable uses like captive packaging, special packs, gift packs, value added packs, new product development, to mention a few; many of them in the cellar door only- like gift boxes, bags, wine calendars, coasters and bar mats,’ says Pinto who is looking for a partner/investor to license the product and find the actual users. ‘We have also been testing with Indian Institute of Packaging Mumbai (IIPM) for food grade uses and I am hopeful it will be approved soon,’ says Adrian.
He claims there is a lot of interest in the process. He has been invited to participate in the ‘Green SAARC Earth Care Awards’ and also to present at ‘Economic Times Top 100 ideas for India.
‘I would like to help change the World- One Sheet at a Time' says Pinto. If successful, he might be able to change his own world- one million at a time!
For more information, write to: info@greenpaperworks.com or itsadrianpinto@gmail.com.
Subhash Arora |