Wood
Cellulose fibres are obtained from wood, which serve as the basis for paper or cardboard. The cellulose fibres are dried with water to form a fleece, and additives such as the natural minerals kaolin and chalk are added if necessary. These minerals make the paper whiter, smoother or better printable. See what wood can do and how it is processed.
Wood - the allrounder among the materials
The extraction process creates by-products such as sawdust and wood shavings, which can be used in many ways for the production of paper, chipboard and fibreboard.
Wood from sustainable forestry generally has a positive life cycle assessment, as no additional increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is caused during decomposition. The tree only releases the amount it has stored during its lifetime. With continuous reforestation, young trees absorb the carbon dioxide again and thus close the cycle.
Production steps for paper products
- After the tree is felled, the so-called round timber is produced, which is separated from its bark.
- The wood obtained is chopped into pieces and mixed with other wood residues, sawdust and waste paper.
- By boiling down the mixed products, a pulp is produced, which is called cellulose. This consists of long, thin cellulose fibres and lignin, a natural adhesive that holds the fibres together. The fibres and lignin are separated from each other. What remains are the cellulose fibres, which are mixed with liquid to form a paper pulp. Part of the wood is ground into fine pieces in this production step, these wood shavings will be relevant later.
- In the next step, remaining pieces of bark and coarse fibres are removed. In addition, the liquid is pressed out of the paper pulp.
- The resulting brown paper pulp is bleached white by heating and the addition of kaolin (natural mineral) and mixed with the above-mentioned wood shavings. This causes the paper to become firmer. Many of our products are also available in natural brown, so bleaching is not necessary.
- The pulp is then ground, sieved, pressed and dried so that hard fibres are crushed and the remaining liquid can drain off.
- The resulting paper is now pressed through rollers, cut to the desired size and rolled up. Our packaging is then made from these paper rolls.
Special characteristics
- Very stable and tearproof
- Fully biodegradable and compostable
- Positive climate footprint
- Recyclable
- Easy to print
Sign up for our greenbox newsletter for more information, helpful tips or exciting product news. Get an additional €5 discount¹ on your next order.
¹Redeemable from a purchase value of €50 and only once as a newsletter subscriber:in. All data will be treated confidentially. Unsubscription is possible at any time
- ✔ Exclusive offers for subscribers
- ✔ Exciting news
- ✔ Helpful tips
- ✔ New products
Would you like to read more such articles, or do you have a critical comment on the content? Then please send us an email with a reference to the specific article to feedback@greenbox.bio. This way we can continue to provide you with interesting content.