Not everyone has a direct idea of what kraft paper is - yet this material is one of the most widely used packaging materials. This is mainly due to the fact that kraft paper, unlike conventional paper, is water- and grease-resistant. It also has extreme tear resistance, which is why this material is one of the strongest types of paper that we can produce from cellulose fibers.
Kraft paper is largely produced in the same way as "normal" paper. The difference is that the raw material and thus the basis of kraft paper are softwoods. Softwoods have very long fibers. These are responsible for the strength and quality of kraft paper. The coniferous woods are boiled together with sodium sulfate, sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide in pressure vessels so that the wood compound dissolves and a solid pulp is produced. This pulp is now mixed with some glue, starch and sulfuric acid. This gives the paper surface a special property: it becomes water-repellent.
No waste paper is used in the production of kraft paper, as its damaged fibers would significantly reduce its strength.
Kraft paper tableware is also ideal for dips and sauces, as the material is grease and moisture repellent. This is a special feature: usually paper should be used only for dry products. Kraft paper has the highest strength, which is due to the long fresh fibers. Due to its very tear-resistant structure, kraft paper tableware is very suitable for take-away and out-of-home business. However, there are a few points to be aware of: The complex production of kraft paper is only possible with the use of chemical processes, from which above all the environmental friendliness suffers.
In addition, kraft paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper. The standard kebab bags can be used for comparison: While a kilogram with a basis weight per bag of 35 g/m² can be purchased for about €4.00, the variant made of kraft paper (= 300 g/m²) is available at a price of €30.00.
Disposable plates made of cardboard are also made of recycled paper, which makes them slightly lighter in color than kraft paper. However, tableware made of kraft paper is not always the same dark color - here it depends on the wood used in its production. The color of kraft paper can vary between dark brown and grey-brown. One characteristic of kraft paper is the long fibers used in its production. These can be seen by tearing the kraft paper at a slight angle.
No waste paper is used in the production of kraft paper, as its damaged fibers would significantly reduce its strength.
