Paper is such a widely used commodity that many people worry it might deplete our forests and create a negative impact to the environment in the long run. This is where stone paper can come to the rescue. Whilst there are sustainable paper sources which we’ll cover in more detail later, paper production can use an enormous amount of energy, water, and wood. By using stone paper, we use less energy with zero water and trees being used in the process. Let’s take a closer look at how stone paper has become a reliable choice as far as sustainability is concerned.
What Is Stone Paper?
Stone paper is made from calcium carbonate and bonded by a non-toxic resin, resulting in a strong and durable paper. It is bright in color and has a physical strength that can withstand far more wear and tear than normal paper.
The stones being used are in crushed form, recycled from different leftovers in the industry. When crushed, it forms into calcium carbonate powder, which is an entirely natural product and safe to use. Other common uses for this stone is in toothpaste, medicines and baby powder.
Stone Paper vs. Normal Paper
Both types of paper have the same density, but stone paper definitely has more applications compared to normal paper. Due to its very nature – the surface of stone paper is smoother since it has no grain like normal paper. This gives you a smooth writing experience, and we often find on touch – the velvety finish is a real conversation starter.
Unlike normal paper, stone paper is tear-resistant, so it can endure direct exposure to water, grease or even dirt. This is perfect for use in outdoor environments when the weather isn’t as sunny as you’d like, or if you have to worry about rain, mist, oil or grease.
Why Choose Stone Paper Products?
The cry of mother earth has always been to preserve our natural resources and stone paper can help with this. The fantastic thing about stone paper is it is the raw being used comes from the waste in limestone quarries. This is a great way to avoid waste and protect our environment. As well as this, the original colour of the stone is white so you won’t have to dose some strong bleaching chemicals during the manufacturing process.
Since paper is being used on a daily basis, whether at school, work, groceries or advertising businesses, stone paper is a great way to make it a sustainable venture. Where suitable, Inkifingus encourages our customers to use stone paper because it is very eco-friendly, and has a great premium finish.
Applications For Stone Paper
You may be wondering what types of products could be made using stone paper. The great news is, virtually every paper product you can think of can be replaced by it. That being said, just because it can be replaced by traditional paper doesn’t always mean it’s always the right choice to make. The team at Inkifingus can help you figure out the best applications for stone paper in your business, but here are some commons reasons our clients choose stone paper over paper made from trees.
One of the biggest our clients choose stone paper is because they’re working in extreme weather conditions, or environments where there’s excessive water, grease or oil. As we’ve mentioned, stone paper is waterproof and tearproof meaning you can spill as much oil, water or grease on it and still be able to write on it. If you really wanted to – you could even write on it under water. This makes stone paper printed products the perfect solution tradespeople, and particularly in the marine industry for example. Due to this level of durability, not only is it good alternative to paper – but in some can even be an alternative to plastic as you may not need to laminate cards or booklets.
On the other end of the spectrum, because of its smooth velvety finish – it is widely used in sales and promotional material. As soon as your team hand a stone paper booklet to a current or prospective client, you’ll have an immediate conversation starter. Stone paper feels high end, and gets people asking questions. As well as leaving the impression of quality with clients – you’ll also be able to talk about the sustainable benefits on stone paper which can help further differentiate yourself in your clients’ eyes.
Choosing Inkifingus for your Stone Paper Products
As you can see, Stone Paper has a wide range of applications and can make a great alternative to paper. In some cases, it may even help you reduce plastic for laminated products. When you’re planning your next print job, as well as design choices – you now have a range of sustainable paper options to choose from. Stone paper may be a good option for you if you want to wow people with the smooth velvety finish, or ensure you can use your print products in extreme weather conditions. If you’re interested in using Stone Paper, but not sure how it can best be used in your business – get in touch our friendly team at Inkifingus today to see how we can implement stone paper as part of your printing services.
