Favini’s new Sparto paper is inspired – not only in name – by a natural plant fibre; esparto grass, which grows in the arid zones of the coasts of North Africa and in part of the Iberian Peninsula. Few people know about it, but many have worn it; espadrilles take their name from this grass, which was originally used to make their distinctive soles.

What is esparto grass?

Esparto grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) Sparto grass (Stipa tenacissima L.) is a perennial plant belonging to the gramineae family, widespread in the semi-arid areas of the western Mediterranean, particularly in North Africa and southern Spain. It grows on chalky soils, withstands wide temperature variations and does not require irrigation.

It is not a woody plant, but a grass with compact tufts of solid cylindrical stems, whose leaves can reach up to one metre in length.

Flowering occurs between May and the end of June, and harvesting is still done manually.

Why does the sparto grass combat desertification?

Esparto grass has a significant ecological impact: As it acts as a natural barrier against desertification, helps prevent soil erosion and promotes biodiversity in the Mediterranean landscape. It requires very little human intervention, has a low carbon footprint and is renewable and biodegradable.

Our Research and Development laboratory noticed it for its technical qualities, and at Favini we then definitively embraced it for the creation of Sparto paper due to its sustainability characteristics, which we described in a video.

How is esparto grass used?

Historically, esparto grass has been used to make ropes, carpets, mats, baskets and other woven items, thanks to its physical attributes of strength, flexibility and solidity. These traditional uses were particularly widespread in the western Mediterranean and North Africa, where the grass was readily available.

Today, it is valued for its characteristics in various sectors:

• Paper, such as our Favini paper thanks to its high cellulose content, low lignin content and strong fibres;
• Textile industry: as a resistant and lightweight fibre for technical and natural products;
• Technology and medicine: thanks to its softness, fibrousness, mechanical resistance and lightness.

Esparto in paper: From historical tradition to Favini

The use of esparto grass in paper is not a radical innovation: its history began in the 19th century, when it was used as an alternative to cotton and linen rags, which were used in paper production at the time.

However, with the advent of modern wood pulp, which was cheaper and more readily available, the use of esparto grass in paper production gradually declined, giving way to more standardised and less expensive industrial processes.

Today, esparto grass is used in Favini’s Sparto paper, is the result of the company’s ongoing research into alternative and sustainable fibres. The fibres of this plant have particularly interesting characteristics for the paper industry:

• Rich in cellulose and low in lignin, which simplifies the transformation processes and reduces environmental impact;
• Short, highly fibrous, elastic and with excellent mechanical resistance;
• With a naturally smooth surface, they improve the aesthetic and tactile quality of the derived materials.

Conclusion

The reintroduction of esparto grass in paper production demonstrates how historical fibres can find new relevance in a modern context. This grass, used for centuries and then set aside by industry, is now making a comeback thanks to its renewable nature, low environmental impact and technical properties. With Sparto paper, Favini is promoting a resource, showing how innovation can also arise from the rediscovery of natural fibres from the past.

Discover esparto grass in action; watch the Visual Book animation and learn about the history, its properties and Sparto paper by Favini.

Watch the video

Introduction

Over the last two years, Luxe Pack Monaco has been the backdrop for two important innovations by Favini in the field of ecological papers. In 2024, the Shiro Echo range was extended with four additional colours; in 2025, Sparto was introduced, the new paper created by the union between research and sustainability.

Sparto is the new Favini paper to take its place in the Paper from Our Ecosystem collection. It is made from esparto fibre, post-consumer recycled material, and bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane processing

At the Grimaldi Forum, this paper was presented with both a sample book showcasing the variety of colours and weights and with a visual book, “Combat Desertification,” which explores its aesthetic and technical potential with print.

The concept behind the visual book

A common theme runs throughout the visual book: Desertification, one of the main global environmental problems, which the UN has been fighting since 1994.

Sparto was created from this concept: Esparto grass, which thrives in hot climates and arid terrain, plays a key role in combating desertification.

From problem to concrete solution, this is the story that takes shape in this visual book, enhanced with illustrations by Hattie Clark, Janne Livonen, and Made Up.

A look inside

The visual book consists of sixteen pages created using French Fold bookbinding technique, with a Japanese-style bound cover. The spine is covered in gauze, and it is completed with a dust jacket.

All eight Sparto colours are represented in 120 gsm, and the cover uses 350 gsm Storm, a grey with attractive inclusions.

Various print techniques were used to create the visual book: Traditional and UV litho, hot foil stamping, and screen printing.

UV litho was used to achieve greater brightness and colour coverage, for example in the first section of the visual book where the white of the moon and skull stands out against the beige colour of Sparto Desert.

The skull then underwent an additional step with a scratched effect, to give it depth and detail.

The inks used in traditional litho are semi-fresh, which guarantee a pleasant and natural finish.

The reflections of light visible on some pages are created by foiling.

Brass Dies were used for these prints, as they are more resistant and ensure excellent results.

Screen printing was used, for example, on the page in Monsoon blue.

Three passes were made to achieve this, without the paper undergoing any deformation.

As Alberto Pavan of Pavan Plast points out, Sparto paper maintained its stability and precision throughout the entire process.

Sparto paper performance

Sparto paper performed excellently during the production of the visual book. “It performed very well with all the techniques used,” explains Alberto Favero of Arti Grafiche K2. The paper showed mechanical stability and no deformation, confirming its reliability even in complex processes.

Sparto thus confirms itself as a versatile, high-performance paper, capable of combining aesthetics, sustainability, and high-level printing results, ideal for applications that require precision and quality.