Q: How?
A: Saving money is always a priority in business, and when it comes to paper, there are always alternatives that can deliver savings that range from modest to substantial, depending how little or how much you can compromise. The most effective way to reduce costs is by reducing the substance weight of your text stock.
Paper is sold by weight and priced per tonne. Take, for example, an A4 publication with 64 pages and a print run of 100,000. Using 100g/m² paper, you’d need around 25.5 tonnes. Switching down to 90g/m² would reduce that to 23 tonnes, reducing the print run requirement by 2.5 tonnes.
Reducing weight while staying within the same paper grade or type is a relatively low risk strategy. It offers savings without noticeably impacting on the appearance or quality of the finished product. Sometimes, a change to a different manufacturer can help with this process, although it’s always best to perform an opacity test before committing.
For even greater savings, there are hybrid or high-bulk papers. These are papers that are engineered to retain thickness while using less material and are often quoted with a specific volume or bulk value along with the paper weight. For instance, if replacing the 100g/m² text in the above scenario with a 75g/m² 1.2 bulk paper, it would retain the original publication thickness, but save over 6 tonnes of paper for the print run!
There are trade-offs, of course. High-bulk papers tend to have a slightly rougher surface and reduced whiteness. However, if your publication includes heavy ink coverage then this is less likely to be noticeable and the paper’s tactile, natural feel may even enhance the environmental appeal of your product.
Sustainability now ranks equally with cost considerations for many businesses, and paper products offer a compelling opportunity to enhance both your brand’s environmental profile and your product’s appeal.
Paper is both renewable and recyclable. It is sourced from sustainably managed forests, where trees are primarily harvested for timber with the top third of the tree along with coppicing and thinning residues used for pulp production. Once produced, paper fibres can be recycled up to 10 times before they become too short for the paper making process. However, even at that stage, they still serve a valuable purpose as a soil improvement agent in agriculture and horticulture. So, what originally comes from the ground ultimately returns to the ground — an elegant and natural story of circularity.
The paper industry is one of the few highly transparent industries when it comes to carbon reporting, making it easy for companies to track Scope 3 carbon data as part of their carbon reduction and net-zero programmes. In addition to mill production emissions, transportation emissions, from the mill gate to the customer’s printer, can also be tracked and reported. This detailed information helps publishers make informed decisions that align with their sustainability goals.
For those looking to go further, the Carbon Balanced Paper scheme enables publishers to offset the carbon emissions from paper production while also contributing to the protection of endangered habitats and ecosystems. Operated by the World Land Trust, the programme provides a registered logo for use in publications printed on carbon balanced paper, along with an official certificate confirming the amount of carbon saved and land protected due to your purchase.
Sustainable raw material sourcing is becoming increasingly critical, especially with the upcoming enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) at the end of this year. Forest certification schemes like FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) have been in place for over three decades. These certifications have adapted to include environmental and social criteria, offering publishers robust proof of legal and sustainable supply chains. Whilst the use of the FSC or PEFC logo does not guarantee full compliance with EUDR, they do contribute significantly to the due diligence requirements and are an important part of demonstrating responsible sourcing.
Q: What are your three top tips?
1. If you’re not doing it already, then buy paper independently of your print. This will provide you with an unrestricted choice of paper sources, so that you can explore different paper types, weights, prices and carbon factors.
2. Make use of a supplier that can provide dummies of your publication when considering a switch to reduced paper weight, a different paper type or even a completely different format altogether. Sample sheets can be of help, but there is nothing like a mock-up dummy to provide a visual and tactile experience before committing to a change in paper.
3. Invest time in getting the most out of your paper’s sustainability attributes. This can be done at very little cost, if any, but it can deliver an incredible boost for your product as well as your organisation.
Denmaur is an established national paper merchant, providing a complete choice of innovative and sustainable paper solutions. In addition to a comprehensive paper and management and 48-hour dummy service, we offer complimentary sustainability consultancy. Denmaur has registered carbon targets through the SBTi and is a carbon balanced company.
Email: jtownsend@denmaur.com
Tel: 01795 426775
Web: www.denmaur.com
This article was included in the 'Celebration of Print' special, published by InPublishing in August 2025. Click here to see the other articles in this special feature.
