Premium recycled pulp
What does premium recycled mean?
Arjowiggins stands for quality, which is why our Arjowiggins recycled grades are made only from superior recycled pulp. Through careful selection and an exclusive de-inking process, the pulp is suitably chosen and cleansed for the production of quality paper with excellent printability.
The process, together with the high level of experience and expertise at the mill, ensures we can offer quality recycled papers with:
- High level of whiteness
- High stiffness
- Homogeneous sheet formation
- Excellent shade homogeneity for all colours and grammages
How does Arjowiggins produce premium recycled papers?
- Cellulose fibres can be re-used up to five times for premium papers, and seven times total
- The process uses less water and energy than virgin wood pulp
- Only non-polluting chemicals, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydrosulfite, are used for de-inking. The process uses water and black soap and is completely chlorine free (PCF)
Pulp and other raw materials
All pulp used for these papers is FSC® certified and from sustainably managed forests. ECF (Elementary Chlorine Free) certification gives peace of mind that no chlorine is used for bleaching and, in addition, all pulp is EUTR (EU Timber Regulation) compliant, in the fight against illegally harvested timber.
80% of pulp used for Arjowiggins papers originates from hardwood, mostly eucalyptus, from Spain, Portugal, Sweden and Brazil, with the origin of the remaining 20% being softwood, spruce and pine, from Sweden.
Arjowiggins produce more than 100 recycled papers, ranging from 25% to 100% PCW recycled content and including options made from alternative fibres. All other raw materials and chemicals used are REACH compliant.
The use of alternative fibres (bamboo & cotton)
Bamboo papers
Bamboo paper is sustainable from both an environmental and socio-economic aspect
The bamboo fibres used in our papers are from bamboo forests in Sichuan, China, which is also where the mill is based
- Bamboo is a fast, easily grown, perennial crop, which can be selectively harvested
- No fertilisers or pesticides used
- Bamboo naturally acts as an effective carbon sink
- Bamboo returns 30% more oxygen to the atmosphere than trees, cleaning the air
- The natural growth of bamboo requires less energy and water than trees
- An ethically run mill, ensuring no child labour, corruption or bribery
Properties of bamboo fibres
Physical properties
- High fibre coarseness for a warm, natural touch
- Excellent opacity
- With long fibres and good tear strength for excellent performance in embossing and debossing
- Excellent bulk & rigidity
- Its dimension stability is as good as eucalyptus
- Naturally white, with no added OBAs (Optical Brightening Agents)
Printability
- Great printing performance
- Excellent colour rendering, homogeneity and contrast on paper weights.
- Screen printing up to 300 lpi
- Lowest ink drying time
Cotton papers: soft touch and feel
Soft, refined and composed totally of cotton fibres.
- Cotton is a fast-growing, easily grown, perennial crop, which can be selectively harvested
- Cotton is sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable, making it an excellent choice as an environmentally friendly fibre throughout its entire product life-cycle
- The value of cotton lies in the structure of the fibres which are long, hollow, and tube-like
Physical properties of cotton
- 100% cotton linters
- Lowest ash level
- Excellent bulk
- Excellent opacity
- Suitable for embossing, letterpress, die-cutting
- More long-lasting than wood-pulp paper, ideal for permanent documents
Printability
- High porosity
- Good runability, generally better with blanket
- Low sensitivity to ink rubbing
- Dry toner compatible
