The Cotton Paper Process | The Eco Friendly Paper Choice

For centuries, Cotton Paper has been known for its purity, durability and craftsmanship. The paper has a soft, natural texture in a bright white finish. Whether you’re a stationery lover, work in the print industry, or are simply curious about sustainable alternatives for your Wedding Invitations, learning how Cotton Paper is made offers a fascinating look into the art and science behind it.

In this blog, we’ll explore what makes it so special, where it’s crafted, and how its production reflects a more eco-friendly approach to creating premium-quality materials.

What is Cotton Paper? 

Cotton Paper is a high-quality form of paper made primarily from cotton linters or recycled cotton fabric, rather than wood pulp. Unlike typical paper, which is derived from trees and is celebrated for its natural strength and luxurious feel. Cotton Paper is a common choice for Wedding Invitations, Business Stationery, archival documents, and even currency. 

What makes Cotton Paper so special lies in its fibre composition. Cotton fibres are longer, smoother, and more flexible than wood-based fibres, contributing to the paper’s incredible resilience and its distinct soft texture. These properties ensure that Cotton Paper lasts longer, resists fading better, and maintains its structural integrity even after years of use. 

Enthusiasts love it for its superior quality, while professionals in the print industry favour it for projects demanding sophistication and longevity. Eco-conscious consumers are also turning to Cotton as a sustainable paper alternative to wood-based paper. 

Gmund – The Birthplace of Our Cotton Paper

Our Cotton Paper is crafted by Gmund and is part of the G.F Smith paper collection. Gmund is a family-owned business based in the picturesque Bavarian Alps of Gmund am Tegernsee, Germany. With a heritage dating back to 1829, Gmund combines traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation to create truly exceptional paper. 

Renowned worldwide, Gmund is committed to sustainability, creativity, and quality, setting the bar high for eco-friendly papermaking. Their dedication ensures that beauty and responsibility go hand in hand, making their Cotton Paper as sustainable as it is stunning. 

For anyone who loves stationery or values environmentally conscious practices, Gmund’s products offer the perfect balance of timeless tradition and forward-thinking design. It’s a benchmark of quality, care, and thoughtful innovation.

How Cotton Paper is Made 

Making Cotton Paper is a fascinating process that blends skill, care, and precision at every stage. From choosing the best materials to achieving that smooth, elegant finish, each step is thoughtfully handled to create the final product. Here’s how it all comes together:

1. Collecting Raw Materials 

The journey starts with cotton linters—short fibers left over from making cotton textiles—or recycled cotton fabrics. These linters are typically a by-product of the textile industry, so using them for Cotton Paper is a great way to upcycle and reduce waste. 

2. Preparing the Cotton Fibres 

Next, the cotton fibres are purified to remove any impurities, ensuring they’re ready for the next steps. This process not only strengthens the fibres but also enhances the paper’s look and feel, setting the stage for a high-quality product. 

3. Pulping the Cotton 

Once the cotton fibres are prepared, they’re blended into a pulp using water. At Gmund, the water treatment process uses ozone, meaning no chemicals are involved, and the water can be reused up to seven times. In fact, Gmund is the only mill in the world to do this! This creates a smooth mixture that forms the foundation of the paper, making it ready for shaping.

4. Sheet Forming 

The cotton pulp is spread evenly across fine mesh screens, letting the water drain away and leaving behind the fibrous structure. This step is key for creating an even texture and a smooth surface, which are hallmarks of great paper. 

5. Pressing and Drying 

After the sheets take shape, they’re carefully pressed to remove extra water and dried in specialised chambers. This step ensures the paper is durable while maintaining its ideal thickness and finish. 

6. Finishing Touches 

Finally, the paper is sized, polished, and cut to meet specifications. By the end of this thoughtful process, you get Cotton Paper that’s natural and uncomplicated but also crafted with a commitment to quality and sustainability.

Your Printed Product

When your Cotton Paper order arrives at Printed.com HQ, it begins its journey through our state-of-the-art Canon iX3200 printer, delivering precision and exceptional image quality for every design. Cotton Paper is a standout in our luxury and speciality G.F Smith paper, combining elegance with eco friendliness to create the perfect choice for elevated prints. 

Cotton Paper launched in early 2024 and has quickly become a customer favourite for its exceptionally soft texture and premium 250gsm weight. The 250gsm has been custom designed exclusively for us and delivers a flawlessly luxurious finish that stands out. Wedding Invitations lead the way as the most popular product printed on this paper, with Business Cards and Postcards catching up quickly. This growing trend reflects a shift towards more refined and sustainable paper options in the printing world. 

Whether you’re planning a personal event or elevating your professional branding, Cotton Paper is a thoughtful choice for creating a lasting impression.

Cotton Paper’s Eco-Friendly Credentials 

A major reason for its growing popularity as a sustainable paper option is that it’s made entirely from 100% cotton. Fully recyclable and biodegradable, it offers an eco friendly paper alternative to traditional paper, which often relies on large-scale logging and has a significant impact on forests around the globe.

Cotton Paper, on the other hand, offers meaningful benefits for both the planet and its users: 

• Upcycling at its best: Cotton linters, a by-product of the textile industry, are repurposed to create Cotton Paper, helping to reduce waste and give materials a second life. 
• Built to last: Cotton Paper is far more durable than regular wood-pulp paper, meaning it lasts longer and requires fewer replacements—perfect for archival or important uses. 
• Smarter water use: The production process uses water treated with ozone, eliminating chemicals and allowing water to be reused up to seven times. 
• Naturally biodegradable: Made from pure, natural fibres, Cotton Paper breaks down safely at the end of its lifecycle, reducing its environmental footprint. 

Gmund Paper leads the way with its impressive commitment to sustainability. Up to 75% of the energy used in their production is green, most of it generated on-site through water, solar, and heat coupling systems. Their processes are carefully optimized to minimize waste, and every material they use is thoughtfully chosen with the environment in mind. 

Cotton Paper isn’t just a sustainable alternative, it’s a smarter, more responsible choice for those who care about quality and the planet.

Why Cotton Paper is the Future of Premium Stationery 

With the growing focus on sustainability and the timeless appeal of high-quality materials, Cotton Paper is quickly becoming a favourite choice for many. It combines eco-friendliness with exceptional quality, making it ideal for professionals crafting standout presentations or individuals looking to capture meaningful moments in a thoughtful way. 

While Cotton Paper has deep roots in history, its future is brighter than ever. Thanks to innovative approaches and responsible practices, companies like Gmund are setting new standards for both quality and sustainability in stationery and print. 

Whether you need durable, elegant paper for your batch of Business Cards or Invitations with matching Cotton Envelopes or a way to reduce your environmental footprint, Cotton Paper is a smart, reliable choice you can feel good about.