As packaging continues to become more and more sustainable, there are new changes to materials and how the packaging looks. There is also more awareness than eve before of the issues involving plastics, and now brands are looking to reduce the current footprint that’s there. Glassine paper is the possible solution that we may be looking for as well. Here’s what you need to know about this, and whether it’s a good sort of option for those interested in their packaging desires.
What’s Glassine
Glassine is a paper that’s pulp-based that offers a specific sort of feel and look to it. There is no connection in this paper to glass itself, but it is similar in features. It oftentimes is confused for wax paper, or plastic and parchment. It’s not like regular paper, but it’s versatile and offers a lot of distinct packaging options. This is used in a lot of food industry products due to the fact that it is also grease -resistant, and it does a great job of ensuring that the baked goods and other kinds of treats are made even better.
How it’s Made
This is made via aspen, birch, or oak, with the paper being cut down, processed to be pulped, and once they’re made into pulp, the fibers then get separated from the other substances in the wood, such as lignin and other costs of items.
By removing the lignin, it has unique albitites in this, making it resistant to the elements that are there. it’s then treated with dyes and pigments in order to fit the colors and grades as needed, then dried and treated, and through calendaring, the surface is made smooth by pushing it in between equipment, as its hit by hard pressured cylinders too. This glassine paper is changed with dyes such as clay, calcium carbonate, and also titanium oxide in order to make the paper much more opaque as needed. The thickens, weight, grade, and other qualities are all dependent on the calendaring of this too.
The benefits
This is free of acids, is a neutral pH, and is resistant to grease, moisture and air, and it can be used for a bunch of different applications too. While some paper may need more wax coatings and laminates, this is more sustainable. This also is made directly from wood pulp, so it can be recycled and is also biodegradable.
For brands that want something sustainable, this is the best choice for the job. With the higher thickness and density, which means much higher tensile strength, endurance for folding, and stiffness, it best as out a lot of paper that’s on the market.
The cons
There are a few cons to look at. This is not good for printing on, and while it can handle some offset printing and digital printing, it’s definitely a difficult process for those who want to do this in a way that’s effective for many.
The paper is also not as porous in most cases, so it will absorb the ink less, and drying is a much longer process. This means that the ink smearing and the design being possibly compromised is a lot higher, which means that it does have limitations.
It can be embossed in some cases, but it’s nowhere near as good as say corrugated paper board or as well folding carton paperboard. With the right experience and methods, it does create the finishes that look good such as printing and embossing. This is something that can be used especially if you’re fine with the drawbacks not being too much too.
