Wood, Paper and Cardboard – the extensive material science of the popular raw materials

Wood, paper and cardboard – the extensive material science of the popular raw materials

Trees are vital to humans and animals because they act as producers of oxygen and carbon stores. They also serve as a habitat for many creatures, provide food and shade, and beautify our environment. Walking through the forest is a kind of relaxation and helps to gather new energy. But trees don’t just have myriad advantages in forests and green spaces. Wood is an important raw material and has become an indispensable part of the packaging industry. Renewable raw materials are neutral in CO 2 and easy to recycle, making them very environmentally friendly. Whether it is wood itself or processed into paper, cardboard and cardboard from this renewable material, the packaging is completely natural! In our product range, you will find wooden packaging and cardboard, cardboard and paper products used in sustainable transportation and takeaway areas.

• Sustainable
• Shipping packaging
• Sustainable
• Food packaging

Sustainability of your business

Given the huge global demand for wood as a diversified raw material, of course, people and animals should not be forgotten. Only the people living in the forest and the people in the production chain are not exploited. When all living things are taken into consideration carefully, a sustainable timber economy can be realized. We take this very seriously. Certifications such as PEFC ™ and FSC ® allow us to use socially and ecologically sustainable wood. But what exactly do these two abbreviations mean, and what are their detailed meanings?

PEFC TM wood from internationally protected forests 

The PEFC ™ organization (Forest Certification System Approval Program) ensures that ecological, economic and social standards are considered in wood production. PEFC ™ certification means that at least 70% of the product’s material comes from forests certified as sustainably managed according to the forest certification system recognized by PEFC or recycled materials. The proportion of recycled materials is less than 85%.

FSC ® Social and Ecological Justice Certification FSC ® (Forest Stewardship Council ®) is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to protect forests and maintain high social standards for related personnel. Since 1993, FSC® has been committed to promoting social progress for workers, communities and locals. At the same time, deforestation areas are protected to support the regeneration of natural habitats., you will find FSC ® certified products with the following possible seals: FSC ® 100%: Only FSC ® certified forest materials and fibres FSC ® Recycling: Products are made from recycled forest materials. FSC® Mix and FSC® Mix Credit: materials from FSC® certified forests, recycled materials and other controlled sources. 

As a certified partner for sustainable packaging

We have passed PEFC ™ and FSC ® certification, making it easier to switch to sustainable packaging. These certifications can certify members of the production chain from forestry to paper production, thus providing sustainable products made from wood, paper and cardboard. Annual product and working condition reviews help to always comply with the latest regulations.

What type of packaging is made of wood as a raw material? 

The wooden packaging is characterized by its high stability and can be used multiple times in many cases. Wood is particularly used for transporting and packaging products such as pallets, boxes, and wood wool for filling and filling. In logistics companies, wooden products facilitate organization and protect products from damage. Also, the wooden gift box is exquisite and versatile. 

In the food industry, wood is processed in sustainable, disposable baking pans, tableware or blenders for use in the Coffee To Go business. Our product range is diverse, and we are interested in all walks of life.

Paper, cardboard, cardboard – a wide range of packaging of natural origin for your industry

Wood is processed into a variety of products, which we use in all areas of daily life. Next, you will learn how paper production works and what sustainable products you can benefit from. 

How is paper actually produced?

Paper is made of wood, which is widely known. But do you know how this happened? In the so-called digestion process, wood breaks down into individual fibres in water. It is then dried in a colander to form wool. This is how paper was made thousands of years ago. Today, paper is produced the same way it was thousands of years ago, and modern technology is hardly relevant. Today, the resulting paper wool is further processed. Through drainage, pumping, pressing and drying processes, moisture is removed from the wool and natural minerals (additives) are added according to the desired end product.

Different types of paper are produced with different colours, printability, surface structure and tear resistance; therefore: paper, cardboard and cardboard. These three types differ mainly in weight, which is expressed in grams per square meter. DIN 6730 is divided according to paper and cardboard weight: Paper: 7 225 g / m² 2 Cardboard: 226 g / m² For recycled products, waste paper is reprocessed into fibres, the so-called secondary fibre. They are processed into paper, cardboard or cardboard using the methods already described in sequence.

Brown or white paper – which is more sustainable?

Anyone who quickly thinks of green and sustainable packaging will have images of brown bags, cardboard boxes and cups in their minds. However, this is a misunderstanding: the sustainability of white paper is no worse than brown. Both paper types are made of wood, as a renewable raw material, and are equally easy to recycle. Whether the paper is brown or white depends on whether it has been breached. However, bleached paper fibres do not consume additional resources, and products of both colours can be recycled equally. Therefore, both variants are sustainable; you can choose the product according to your personal preferences or order the same product in two colours, such as our “Enjoy” paper bag.

Have you used sustainable paper packaging for transport and packaging? If you look at your past food logistics and packaging, you may find a product that sustainable alternatives can replace. We are happy to support your choice and provide practical implementation advice!

Paper, cardboard and cardboard products for your industry

A wide variety of packaging for the food industry and the transport of wood and different types of paper can be manufactured. Its characteristics are very different.

Pay attention to what you must pack and learn more about the most important criteria for choosing to package. Whether you are a takeaway, bakery or logistics company, you can find an overview of our products here.

• Paper grades for dry products

Uncoated kraft paper or silk paper is very suitable for transporting dry goods. Delicate tissue paper with a gram weight of less than 30 g/m 2 is often used to wrap or cover sensitive products. Kraft paper is a kind of high-strength wrapping paper, which is soft on one side and therefore soft to the touch. This is particularly suitable for folding bags, such as wrapping paper, tote bags and paper bags for fruit and vegetable counters. In terms of shipping, there is filler paper made from recycled waste paper, such as surplus newspapers and printing presses, or grey waste paper made from unsorted recycled waste paper, which is a sustainable way to protect the products in the package.

• Greaseproof paper is solid and durable, suitable for your business.

Togolese foods are usually hot and greasy and should be made of greaseproof paper or greaseproof paper. Kraft paper and tissue paper can also be used for this purpose, but only if coated. As an alternative to these coating variants, parchment paper is also suitable. This is also called greaseproof paper, which is ideal for snack bags, bakeware or cone bags. The smooth parchment paper replacement paper is food safe and prevents quick absorption of slightly greasy baked goods. Oil-proof glass goes one step further. It is used for shipping sturdy, tear-resistant flat bags or glazing, frying and baking snacks in the food industry. Cardboard, the all-rounder of paper In addition to paper, disposable cardboard tableware is particularly suitable for various packaging types.

• Cardboard – the all-rounder made of paper

It is made of multiple layers and can be coated. A layer of pigment causes the surface smoother and more uniform, making printing easier. For the food industry, pastry trays, beverage and ice cream cups, shipping boxes, pizza boxes and hamburger boxes are all made of cardboard. In logistics and industry, cardboard is processed into larger and larger boxes and boxes, which are then used for loading and transportation.

• Cardboard – stability with or without shafts

The most durable material made from paper is cardboard. In the production process, various non-woven fabrics are glued and pressed together to form a very stable material thicker than paper. Cakes and cups for soups and beverages and paper plates for the catering industry are preferably cardboard. Wood, cardboard and cardboard have also become indispensable in the industry. 

For example, corrugated cardboard is well suited for sustainable transport packaging such as cardboard boxes, folding boxes and shipping bags, stabilizing containers and packing some products. Corrugated cardboard made of corrugated paper is remarkably stable, absorbs shocks and reliably protects your goods. Corrugated paper made from recycled materials sits between two smooth exterior roofs. The thicker the outer roof, the more stable the cardboard will be. Also, corrugated cardboard is divided into single-layer, two-layer and three-layer cardboard, depending on how many layers overlap each other. The following applies here: the more layers, the more stable the cardboard.

Sustainable disposable tableware and packaging made from renewable raw materials

Depending on whether you are looking for products for the catering industry or need shipping packaging, today, there are sustainable alternatives for every area of application. At Eco-Friendly Packaging, you will find not only wood and paper packaging but also environmentally friendly disposable products made from other renewable raw materials, so let yourself be inspired and feel free to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

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