75 July / August 2023 - Issue 343 email: news@printmonthly.co.uk example of best practice for circular design – and as a business we have been focused on helping brands to elevate circularity for their projects. “There’s an ongoing push towards recycled fibre with many brands now wanting to push beyond the 40% that used to be the benchmark. This has led suppliers to look at new fibre streams that drive the right form and function, as well as hitting a price point and sustainability credentials. It’s certainly taken us into some interesting avenues, collaborating with a number of different partners across a number of industries.” James Cropper has led a number of recycling projects which has added to transformative attitudes towards paper. The company has created the world’s first technology to upcycle used coffee cups, as well as its FibreBlend Upcycled Technology which incorporates used jeans into fully recyclable paper for use in packaging. “In an industry first, we launched a coloured paper range using natural dye derived from plant extract,” says Barnes, adding: “The Wainwright Colours from Nature range is one of our latest innovations which create value from waste streams without compromise on technical performance. The colours are derived from rosemary residue, a waste stream in food production, for this 100% FSC-recycled paper range.” Innovation in the industry has been at the forefront over the past few years with print, paper, and packaging leading the way in many solutions. Speciality paper company UPM has recently worked with the likes of Koenig & Bauer to optimise digital printing for packaging. Recent rest carried out on UPM’s heat-sealable barrier papers show positive signs for brand owners and converters in accelerating products to market and creating more customised packaging. Markus Kamphuis, technical sales manager at UPM Specialty Papers, states: “The results were extremely successful from the beginning. UPM Confidio incorporates an additional heat seal function, so it was also important to find out if the temperatures for drying ink would activate the sealing function or change the colours of the design. Neither was an issue, and the colours were really sharp and vivid.” “This kind of flexibility allows brand owners to meet legal requirements for higher levels of traceability and localised packaging materials as well as develop highly customised packaging. Take the final of the Superbowl or the Champions League for example,” explains Falko Baltrusch, senior manager at Koenig & Bauer Customer Technology Center. “You can wait until the last minute to print the packaging when you know which teams are in the final. And they can do all this while also making the transition to fibre-based materials, meeting their sustainability goals.” Companies like Koehler Paper have also continued to innovate and collaborate due to the continued need for speciality papers in food and packaging. Recent tests with Nissha Metallizing Solutions have been undertaken to create packaging suitable for snacks, drink powders, and coffee. For James Cropper, the key areas for printers and creative agencies to focus on are colour and surface texture. Barnes explains: “There is a wonderful array of premium-coloured papers available off the shelf, in weights suited ▼ Speciality paper can be used for a range of products like gifts, packaging, wrapping, labels, photography, publishing paper, and thermal paper to various print applications. From ultrasmooth qualities to those with a toothier surface finish, and also options with an embossed surface texture. “At James Cropper we specialise in making natural uncoated papers. Our Vanguard range is a collection of smooth uncoated coloured papers for premium print and our Rydal Packaging Collection has been designed for premium packaging applications. “We also offer a custom papermaking service and can produce papers to order in terms of colour, texture, surface finish, and weight suited to specific applications. With an in-house converting facility there is also the option of heavyweight boards up to 3mm thick, and even duplex qualities.” Packing a Punch It's undeniable that paper is experiencing a surge in popularity in many markets thanks to its sustainable credentials and pleasing aesthetics. PG Paper has recently highlighted the continued demand for tissue paper due to the growing mandate for paper and increases in populations and the standard of living. The company has also pointed to a resurgence in the public’s valuing of physical print as printed advertising and publications set to receive a comeback due to digital fatigue and clamp downs on online assets like third-party cookies and data mining. All this and more adds to the increased relevance of not just paper, but speciality paper, as brands, businesses, and even individuals look to stand out. Just like a new sofa or a bespoke pair of shoes, a textured business card or premium piece of packaging can turn a simple reaction into a ‘wow moment’. Research from Fact.MR reports that worldwide demand for speciality papers has accounted for a market valuation of $35.2bn (£28.4bn) this year Factoid ► In response to client demand, James Cropper has increased its sustainable range as the papers offer a more natural look and feel TASTE FOR SUCCESS / SPECIALITY PAPER
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