Material
Recycled Paper
100% post-consumer recycled fiber. FSC-certified on request. The substrate for brands with the strictest sustainability positioning.
Composition
100% post-consumer recycled fiber
Weight range
80–300 gsm
Colors
Natural grey, bleached white
FSC certified
Yes (FSC Recycled)
Print methods
Offset, digital, flexo
Recyclable
Yes (closes the loop)
Best for
Cartons, sleeves, inserts, inner fitments
MOQ
50 units
Overview
What it is.
Recycled paper is paper made entirely from post-consumer waste fiber — the paper that has already lived its first life as an office document, a magazine, a cereal box, or a previous packaging unit. After collection, sorting, de-inking, and re-pulping, the fiber is reformed into a new sheet suitable for printing, folding, and finishing.\n\nThe fiber in recycled paper is shorter and weaker than virgin kraft fiber, which is why recycled paper is typically used for cartons, inserts, and inner fitments rather than for the structural outer of a mailer box. For brands that want every component of the packaging to be fully recycled — not just the visible exterior — recycled paper is the right call.
When to choose recycled over kraft
Choose recycled when the sustainability claim must hold for the entire packaging unit, not just the visible exterior. Many eco-positioned brands use kraft for the outer wrap but overlook the fact that the inner fitments, the tissue paper, and the protective wraps are often virgin fiber. Recycled paper closes that gap.
Choose kraft when the structural demands are higher (kraft has longer fiber and more tear resistance), when you want the natural brown aesthetic, or when the per-unit cost matters more than the recycled content percentage. Kraft can be FSC-certified too — the difference is the source fiber, not the certification.
Sustainability claims and verification
We publish the post-consumer recycled content percentage of every order on request. For brands that want a third-party-verified claim, we work with FSC Recycled certification (which tracks the chain of custody from collection to finished product) and with SCS Recycled Content certification.
Recycled paper is curbside recyclable in all major markets. The fiber can be recycled 5–7 times before the network degrades to a point of downcycling. Closing the loop — using recycled paper that is itself recyclable — is the cleanest sustainability story packaging can tell.
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Frequently asked
Questions about recycled paper.
Is recycled paper as strong as kraft?
No — recycled fiber is shorter and weaker. For structural components, use kraft. For inner fitments and cartons, recycled is adequate.
What is post-consumer recycled content?
Material that has lived its first life as a consumer product and been collected for recycling. Pre-consumer is factory waste; post-consumer is the more meaningful claim.
Can recycled paper be printed in full color?
Yes, but the shorter fiber creates a more textured surface. We suggest coated recycled paper for high-fidelity work.
Is recycled paper food-safe?
It depends on the de-inking process. We use de-inking chemicals that meet FDA food-contact standards for dry foods. For wet or fatty foods, an inner liner is required.
Do you have FSC Recycled certification?
Yes — our recycled paper is FSC Recycled certified on request, with full chain-of-custody documentation.
What is the lead time for recycled paper?
Same as kraft — 15–20 business days for custom orders, 7–10 days for stocked items.
Ready when you are