Last Updated on January 2, 2025 by Packoi Team
Are you looking for sustainable packaging options for your business? It is a rational decision given the rising consumer demand for sustainability. Everyone is shifting to sustainable packaging to reduce the impact on the environment, and it shows that the sustainable packaging market is expected to exceed 393 billion dollars by 2028.
Let’s explore the key aspects of kraft paper-based packaging substrates that make it ideal for modern businesses.
What is Kraft Paper
The name of this paper is related to the manufacturing process, namely, ‘Kraft’. The process includes the transformation of wood chips into wood pulp to ultimately make the kraft paper. The wood pulp is then used to create a strong paperboard product that is used in almost all industries for packaging.
The name of this manufacturing process is derived from the German word kraft. In the German language, it means strength, and its use in the process highlights the toughness of the material. Its fibers retain their original shape during the kraft paper production process, giving it superior resistance to wear and tear.
Types of Kraft Paper
There are multiple types of kraft paper created as a result of modification of their primary manufacturing process. These papers have a variety of applications in packaging, printing, and manufacturing. Let’s explore:
Unbleached kraft paper (CUK)
The basic version of kraft paper with minimal processing is called the Coated Unbleached Kraft Paper (CUK). It features a classic brown color of raw kraft paper and a slightly grainy texture. The paper is used in shopping bags and wrapping due to its strength, durability, and resistance to tearing.
Solid bleached kraft paper (SBS)
The solid bleached kraft paper (SBS) has a white color and smooth texture. In order to create a smooth surface and remove the brown color, the wood fibers are bleached when making SBS. It is used in premium packaging for cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, as well as printing and folding cartons.
Bleached Kraft paper (BKP)
The bleached Kraft paper (BKP) is created by adding bleach during the manufacturing of the kraft paper. This additional step improves the appearance and texture of the classic kraft paper. The BKP is used in food packaging and paper shopping bags due to enhanced aesthetics.
Coated recycled board (CRB)
The coated recycled board CRB is made entirely from recycled kraft paper. It is coated to improve its appearance, texture, and durability. CRB is the most eco-friendly packaging option. It is rigid and sturdy and used in retail packaging, gift boxes, etc.
Kraft Paper Properties
What can be better than an all-encompassing packaging material that combines durability and sustainability with versatility? Let’s explore the properties of kraft paper that make it the best choice for your business.
Exceptional Strength and Durability
During the manufacturing process, most of the rigid structural molecules (lignin) are removed from wood pulp. Only the strong cellulose fibers are retained, which provide the characteristic strength and flexibility of kraft paper. The end product of this kraft process is a material with high tensile strength and tear resistance that can withstand harsh shipping conditions.
With strength comes durability, making it an excellent choice for heavy-duty applications. Industrial packaging solutions rely heavily on Kraft for wrapping and making paper bags, sacks, and corrugated boxes that can withstand massive weight. It is also a very efficient shock absorber, making it a resilient packaging used for transit. The objects packed in Kraft arrive fully intact and in perfect condition.
Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness
Kraft is the flag bearer of sustainable packaging as it poses minimal environmental impact and has a sustainable origin. During the manufacturing kraft process, all rigid molecules are removed, allowing it to break down in nature easily and without harming the ecosystem.
Moreover, at its core, it is a recyclable material that further reduces waste and conserves the earth’s resources. Coupled with durability and functionality, its eco-friendly nature has made it a top choice for businesses and consumers alike.
Versatility in Appearance and Coatings
Often, the environmentally friendly options are very restrictive, but not kraft paper. It stands out for its adaptability, offering options that cater to diverse packaging needs. Its flexibility in appearance and surface treatments makes it suitable for both functional and decorative applications.
The natural brown unbleached kraft paper has an eco-friendly appeal to it, and it is used for most industrial packaging. Meanwhile, the bleached kraft paper turns white, and this version is used for premium decorative packages.
The technology has taken a turn in kraft processing with coated kraft paper. It allows the packaging to have different finishes, such as wax and polyethylene. This innovation has enhanced the water resistance of the packaging and provides a customizable surface for printing. While specific coatings allow for particular benefits, you can pick and choose what is best for your business. This adaptability has now made kraft paper the ideal choice for retail and gift packaging.
Lightweight and Flexible
Even though kraft paper has a high tensile strength, it is still very lightweight. This quality makes it a low-cost packaging substrate for shipping, as it reduces transport costs by reducing overall weight. Kraft paper is the perfect option if you are looking to optimize logistics without compromising on quality.
Furthermore, the long cellulose fibers without rigid lignin make them very flexible. This quality adds to its usability by allowing it to be effortlessly folded, cut, or shaped into multiple forms, including bags, tubes, sheets, and boxes. It has become the go-to solution in custom packaging by being such an adaptable product.
Breathability
For many industries, maintaining the internal conditions of a package is crucial to protecting the product. Kraft paper allows for a particular level of air circulation that is essential for specific packaging applications. For instance, coated unbleached kraft CUK is often used for packaging baked goods, ensuring freshness by allowing proper airflow.
Moreover, in the manufacturing and textile industry, it is vital to keep moisture at bay from metal, fabric, and lumber. The air-flowing property of Kraft protects the package from moisture and keeps the rust and mildew damage away from the product.
Cost-Effectiveness
The most sought-after quality for businesses is cost-effectiveness. The kraft manufacturing process’s efficiency in extracting all the usable fibers from wood pulp not only reduces waste but also lowers production costs. Thus making kraft paper an affordable packaging solution.
The cost also depends on the type of kraft paper you choose. The unbleached kraft is cheaper than the bleached kraft paper SBS. There are ranges in kraft as well; the unbleached kraft paper is more sustainable and cheaper than the bleached kraft paper SBS. You can choose the variant that allows you to meet your budgeting and sustainability goals.
Why Kraft Paper Stands Out as an Eco-Friendly Choice
One of the main reasons for kraft paper’s success in the packaging industry is its eco-friendly nature. There are three major reasons kraft is considered eco-friendly that include;
- Biodegradability
- Recyclability
- Renewable Source
Kraft is celebrated for its biodegradability, as it can easily disintegrate, leaving minimal impact on the environment. Moreover, kraft paper’s durable nature allows it to be used multiple times, making it highly recyclable. As trees are a renewable resource, if forests are managed properly, creating kraft does not deplete the source or harm the environment. All in all, the environmental impact of kraft paper is as minimal as it can get.
Let’s explore the key factors contributing to its salient point: biodegradability.
The Natural Composition of Kraft Paper
The main reason behind the biodegradable nature of kraft paper is that its origin is natural. It is made from wood pulp of pine or other softwood plants. Since wood is a naturally occurring resource, its entire life cycle is rooted in the ecosystem.
The composition of kraft paper is quite simple. The kraft chemical process involves pressure-cooking softwood chips with alkaline chemicals that remove lignin to some extent. The resultant material is wood pulp with cellulose and hemicellulose, which makes it a strong and resilient packaging material substrate.
Depending upon the final product, i.e., bags, boxes, pouches, etc., the kraft paper can either be reused or turned into wood pulp for another round of processing, thus making it highly recyclable.
Since the brown natural form of kraft paper lacks any synthetic chemicals or coatings, it is safe to break down in compost environments. Even when discarded roughly, the material breaks down in nature just like softwood.
How Kraft Paper Breaks Down?
Kraft paper breaks down in nature just like all other natural materials. The moisture, oxygen, and other natural conditions break down the cellulose fibers in kraft. As the fibers begin to disintegrate, they release carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. Both of these elements are non-toxic, which is the reason for kraft paper’s distinction in eco-friendliness.
Kraft paper is convenient to compost at home or in industry once its life cycle ends. It is known to break down in a matter of months in a well-maintained compost pile or facility, unlike other non-biodegradable materials, such as plastic, which take a millennium to break down.
Here are some easy ways to compost kraft paper:
- In-Home Composting: You can easily decompose kraft paper in your at-home compost bins. However, it is important to note that thinner kraft paper will decompose quicker than the thicker varieties.
- Industrial Composting: The controlled conditions and higher temperature of industrial composts hasten the process of kraft breakdown, taking just a few weeks to decompose kraft paper carton boxes.
Benefits for Businesses and Consumers
Using classic brown kraft paper for packaging solutions provides both businesses and consumers benefits such as:
- Minimize Waste in Landfill: Companies can play their role in saving the environment by reducing their landfill waste. How? By choosing biodegradable options like kraft paper. As kraft can be composted, it does not have to be disposed of in landfills, allowing companies to reduce their carbon footprint significantly. Moreover, transporting waste to landfills and even the space for landfills costs money; both costs are eliminated when kraft paper is used as an alternative.
- Easy disposal for customers: Kraft’s composability makes it an easily disposable option. It is an appealing factor for environmentally conscious consumers.
Kraft Paper for Packaging
Businesses prefer kraft paper because of its universally eco-friendliness. Here are some reasons:
- Aligns with eco-conscious consumer preferences
- It can be used by all types of industries
- It is highly cost-effective
- Provides a creative canvas for branding and aesthetic appeal
To prove this fact, here are industrial applications of kraft paper packaging.
Applications of Kraft Paper packaging
Retail: Wrapping, Bags, and Beyond
It’s been a long time since retailers adopted kraft paper for packaging, and not just because the customization options for kraft paper are unlimited. The smooth presentation of kraft paper makes it perfect for wrapping delicate high-end products such as apparel, cosmetics, and even handmade goods. Lastly, the protective ability of unbleached kraft paper packaging makes it a no-brainer option for retail businesses.
Food Industry: Eco-Friendly and Food-Safe
The natural composition of kraft paper makes it an eco-friendly and food-safe option for packaging in the food industry. The coated kraft paper is the perfect option for wrapping greasy foods. Furthermore, the breathability of kraft paper has made it the top choice for storing and delivering baked goods. Even the takeout industry has started to opt for kraft boxes to deliver food to its consumers because of their recyclable, easy-to-manage, and grease-resistant nature.
E-Commerce: Sustainability meets protection.
The fast-growing e-commerce industry not only produces a lot of waste but also requires a protective and aesthetic appeal from its packaging. Kraft paper is the perfect solution in this scenario, given its sustainable and protective nature and brown kraft paper’s rustic appeal. While the kraft box provides the ultimate strong exterior, you can use crumpled kraft paper as cushioning inside the box as an alternative to bubble wrap and foam. You can also create an elusive unboxing experience using branded mailers or custom-printed wrapping sheets.
Additional Uses Across Industries
Apart from food, e-commerce, and retail, other industries are opting for kraft paper as well.
- Gift Wrapping and Invites: The customizable nature of kraft has made it the preferred option for printing invites or gift wrapping.
- Industrial Packaging: Heavy-duty kraft paper is often used to store and ship large and heavy objects, including furniture, industrial components, and building supplies.
- Agriculture: Breathability and low weight have made kraft paper bags the top choice for farmers to store grains, seeds, or produce.
Whether you are sending gifts worldwide or storing delectables, kraft paper is the ultimate solution for all.
Kraft Paper Packaging Environmental Benefits
Do you think recyclability and biodegradability are the only plus points of kraft paper? Well, that’s not true, and here are its more benefits:
- Reduced Carbon Footprint: Kraft paper eliminates harmful emissions created by extensive chemical treatment used to generate glossy paper. Moreover, it is derived from renewable sources, which further reduces its carbon footprint.
- Energy efficiency: Kraft paper is created by a simple method of heating wood pulp with an alkaline mixture that does not require extreme temperatures. Furthermore, the by-product of creating kraft paper is black liquor, which is a rich energy source used by mills to fuel their operation. Using by-products as an energy source eliminates the need for fossil fuels, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Minimal Waste: The byproducts of chemical processing, ‘black liquor’ and ‘lignin,’ are reused as fuels, and the by-products of kraft decomposition are natural products that cause minimal waste. Removed lignin is also reused to make adhesives or resins, further reducing waste material.
Conclusion
All in all, kraft paper is an ever-green, low-cost, and environmentally friendly packaging solution for your business. So kraft paper serves as a consolidated, ever-green, and environmentally friendly packaging solution for your business. It offers the perfect balance of versatility with eco-friendly nature, making it the perfect choice for sustainable businesses and environmentally conscious consumers.
Take the Sustainable Step with Kraft Paper Today!
Are you ready to make the right choice for our planet’s future? Packoi.com has you covered, whether your needs are for sustainable alternatives or bespoke kraft paper solutions. Choose our kraft paper as your one-stop shop solution for packaging- Contact us to discuss your options.
