Biodegradable cigar tip

1. A biodegradable cigar tip comprising:

an open upstream end configured to surround a downstream end of a cigar, the cigar tip having a mouth end optionally comprising a substantially flat cross-section, the cigar tip comprising a molded biodegradable material comprising (a) paperboard pulp and balance about 5 to about 10 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 20 to about 100 microns, (b) paperboard pulp and balance about 0.01 weight % to about 5 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 20 to about 100 microns, or (c) a starch-filled resin comprising about 50 weight % to about 99.5 weight % resin and about 0.5 weight % to about 50 weight % organic additive.

2. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material includes a flavor additive comprising liquid filled and/or solid microcapsules.

3. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material is coated with a flavored and/or biodegradable waterproof film.

4. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material comprises about 60 to about 80 weight % resin and about 20 to about 40 weight % starch.

5. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material comprises paperboard pulp and balance about 5 to about 10 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 20 to about 100 microns.

6. A method of manufacturing the cigar tip of claim 1 , comprising forming a paste of about 20 to about 40 weight % water and about 60 to about 80 weight % cellulosic fibers and optional binder, flavoring, sweetening and/or coloring agents, compressing the paste in a mold to form a molded cigar tip, ejecting the molded cigar tip and drying the molded cigar tip under ambient conditions.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the paste comprises paperboard pulp and the molded cigar tip is brown in color.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising polishing the molded cigar tip and/or coating the molded cigar tip with a waterproof coating.

9. A method of manufacturing the cigar tip of claim 1 , comprising heating a mixture of resin, ground tobacco and optionally starch to melt the mixture, injecting the melted mixture into a mold cavity, allowing the mixture to solidify and ejecting the cigar tip from the mold.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise paperboard pulp and about 5 to about 10 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 20 to about 100 microns.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein the cellulosic fibers comprise paperboard pulp and about 5 to about 10 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 35 to about 100 microns.

12. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material comprises paperboard pulp and balance about 0.01 weight % to about 5 weight % ground tobacco having a particle size of about 20 to about 100 microns.

13. The cigar tip of claim 1 , wherein the molded biodegradable material comprises about 50 weight % to about 99.5 weight % resin and about 0.5 weight % to about 50 weight % organic additive.

14. A biodegradable cigar tip comprising:

an open upstream end configured to surround a downstream end of a cigar, the cigar tip having a mouth end optionally comprising a substantially flat cross-section, the cigar tip comprising a molded biodegradable material, wherein the biodegradable material consists of pressed cardboard pulp.

15. The cigar tip of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the cigar tip is coated with a plastic film, wax coating or sugarcane pulp coating.

16. The cigar tip of claim 14 , made by filling a mold cavity with a pulp slurry, compressing the slurry to form a molded cigar tip, and drying the molded tip without heating the molded tip.

17. The cigar tip of claim 16 , wherein pulp slurry contains about 60 to about 70 weight % solids and remainder water.

18. A biodegradable cigar tip comprising:

an open upstream end configured to surround a downstream end of a cigar, the cigar tip having a mouth end optionally comprising a substantially flat cross-section, the cigar tip comprising a molded biodegradable material, wherein the biodegradable material consists of injection molded starch-filled resin.

19. The cigar tip of claim 18 , wherein the starch-filled resin includes polypropylene or polyethylene and non-soluble starch selected from corn, tapioca, wheat, potato, plant sourced oligomer, or plant sourced polysaccharide or mixture thereof.

20. The cigar tip of claim 19 , wherein the starch-filled resin comprises about 70 weight % resin and about 30 weight % starch.

21. The cigar tip of claim 19 , wherein the starch-filled resin comprises about 50 to about 95 weight % resin and about 5 to about 45 weight % starch.

22. The cigar tip of claim 18 , wherein the starch-filled resin includes at least one olefin and non-soluble starch selected from corn, tapioca, wheat, potato, plant sourced oligomer, or plant sourced polysaccharide or mixture thereof.

23. A biodegradable cigar tip comprising:

an open upstream end configured to surround a downstream end of a cigar, the cigar tip having a mouth end optionally comprising a substantially flat cross-section, the cigar tip comprising a molded biodegradable material, wherein the molded biodegradable material comprises a biodegradable resin and 20 to 40 weight % starch, a biodegradable resin and 20 to 40 weight % ground tobacco, or a biodegradable resin and 20 to 40 weight % starch and ground tobacco.

24. A method of manufacturing a biodegradable cigar tip comprising an open upstream end configured to surround a downstream end of a cigar, the cigar tip having a mouth end optionally comprising a substantially flat cross-section, the cigar tip comprising a molded biodegradable material, the method comprising heating a mixture of a biodegradable resin and starch to a temperature above 100° C. to melt the mixture, injecting the melted mixture into a mold cavity, allowing the mixture to solidify and ejecting the cigar tip from the mold.