London, Dec 2 (PTI): A UK-based company has developed a wrapping paper that can be used to grow vegetables by simply placing the paper into some soil, adding water and waiting for nature to take its course.

The wrapping paper, called Eden's Paper, contains seeds which grow into vegetables once planted.

Currently, there are five wrapping papers to choose from, these have the seeds of carrots, tomato, broccoli, chilli and onion all embedded into them.

"For the past 12 months we've been testing and refining Eden's Paper, we've planted so many of our wrapping papers in the ground the crop would feed 5,000 people for a year!" its makers claim on Kickstarter website.

The product is made from 100 per cent recycled paper. The seeds are embedded on the back of the wrapping paper in seven layers of biodegradable tissue paper.

The Wrapping paper and tissue paper layers use no glues to hold them together, as glues are harmful to the soil. The layers of printed paper with the wrapping paper designs on, and layers of tissue paper containing the seeds are held together through an embossing process carried out during manufacture.

Each layer of paper is interlocked with the one above it, sandwiching the seeds between them. This means no seeds can fall out of the paper, and ensures that no glues are used in the manufacturing process to bind the layers together.

Even the ink used in the printing process is vegetable-based, so this is an entirely earth-friendly product, its makers say.