Recycled Paper Deluxe

For decades now, the Koehler Paper mill in Greiz has seen significant investments in finding ways to make premium recycled paper out of used paper. This forward-looking strategy is why the mill today produces Koehler Eco® Paper, which has been awarded the "Blue Angel" and EU eco-labels.

Another crucial factor in this success story is how Koehler Paper works closely together with all companies along the value chain. “When we’re developing innovative products, we’re not just locking ourselves up in the lab and hoping that our customers will like what we come up with. Instead, our development work is based on their input, and among other things sees us create new colors and grades based on that,” explains Christoph Braun, Paper Wholesale Sales Director at Koehler Paper.

Europapier is an important partner when it comes to developing this specific range of products further. The wholesaler markets it under the name of Koehler Eco® Earth. Koehler Paper and Europapier worked extensively on expanding the range of available colors, adding eight new ones, two of which were developed specifically on the basis of Europapier’s wishes. “I could hardly believe it. The laboratory samples even outdid the digital color chart,” says Europapier Design Paper Business Lead Sandra Schmidt.

Natural colors that reflect the philosophy behind a product are highly sought after. This strategic expansion has turned Koehler Eco® Earth into a product that is greatly in demand in high-end segments. Schmidt: “With Koehler Eco® Earth, we have created a wondrous universe that inspires designers and creative minds.”

Grafiche Paciotti is also right at home in the world of design. The Perugia-based print shop specializes in premium packaging solutions for customers in the luxury industry, where demand for sustainable materials is constantly growing. Europapier is aware of this, and accordingly thrilled the experts at the print shop with Eco® Earth: “Koehler’s paper stands head and shoulders above the competition as a result of its excellent print and processing quality and its variety of colors,” emphasizes Michele Valentini, Graphic and Packaging Designer at Grafiche Paciotti.

So it was only natural for the print shop to decide to introduce Koehler Eco® Earth packaging in Monaco and showcase its versatility and countless possibilities. “We’ve proven that elegance and sustainability are perfectly compatible,” says Valeria Formiconi, who represented Grafiche Paciotti at the trade show. “The packaging truly wowed everyone.”

Shortly after the trade show, Grafiche Paciotti was commissioned by a prestigious luxury brand with designing the packaging for a designer purse. The artists from Perugia chose Koehler Eco® Earth as the foundation for their handmade box, which received an enormously positive reception at the fashion label.

Europapier sees enormous potential for Koehler Eco® Earth. “The material is perfect for countless applications: from publishing to marketing materials,” Schmidt says. Braun sees his company as perfectly prepared for the growing demand: “We have more than enough capacity to take care of large orders,” he explains. As its next step, Koehler Paper wants to conquer the Asian market with the product as well. For the first time ever, the company had its own booth at LUXE PACK in Shanghai, where it introduced Koehler Eco® Paper in a vibrant red.