Paper: New Paper Products Led by Evironmentally Friendly and Lightweight Alternatives

Despite the advent of e-commerce and the digital age, you’re guaranteed to interact with paper countless times every single day. And until something better comes along, it’s safe to say that paper will be a big part of the catalog industry for the forseeable future.

With that in mind, here’s a rundown of some paper products that have been released in the past several months. From environmentally sound options to a few that could save you money on postage, the editors at Idea Factory present a list of papers that hopefully will get you thinking about the ever-present material on which you print your catalogs.

¥ Montreal-based Domtar introduced an environmently friendly, coated lightweight sheet called Domtar EarthChoice. The paper contains not only a guaranteed amount of 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber, but also raw materials certified by the Forest Stewardship Council, an independent non-profit organization that sets internationally accepted standards for environmental sustainability. This ecologically sound alternative to #3 and #4 lightweight coated free sheets is a blue-white shade and available in basis weights from 38 to 60 lbs, with a brightness of 84. It’s available in both gloss and matte finishes.

¥ Early last month, Stamford, Conn.-based Stora Enso added Fortune Gloss to its digital papers line. Designed as an economical coated alternative for digital offset printers that require a smaller sheet size, Fortune Gloss is available in both text and cover variations. Both are offered in 80 lb and 100 lb weights, but text sheets are 12.375” x 18.125” long grain, while cover sheets are 18.125” x 12.375” short grain.

¥ Stora Enso’s new ConsoPress Advantage is listed as a super lightweight, gloss coated, web paper designed to save money on postage. It’s 4 lbs lighter than same caliper paper, and the 34 lb will bulk to a competing 38 lb without sacrificing gloss or brightness, says Stora Enso. The paper is offered in a blue-white shade with an opacity and stiffness designed to minimize print show through. ConsoPress Advantage is available in basis weights of 28 to 40 lbs, a brightness of 71 to 73, opacity of 87 to 92 and gloss of 44 to 55.

¥ Similarly positioned in the market are some existing papers at Bowater now being offered in lower basis weights. BowSCB+, Bowater’s supercalendared offering, is newly available in 26 lb, 28 lb and 30 lb basis weights. BowGloss, described as the company’s workhorse coated mechanical #5 grade, now is available in both 32 lb and 34 lb basis weights. Both papers are designed for inserts, catalogs and direct mail pieces. The BowSCB+ papers feature a brightness of 65, a gloss of 30 and an opacity range of 87 to 92. BowGloss offers a slightly higher brightness of 71, with a gloss of 50 and smaller opacity range of 87 to 88.