September 14, 2022
(press release)
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OutNature, a brand of the environmental service provider PreZero, is expanding the production of Silphie paper on an industrial scale together with Koehler Paper. In July 2022, the two partners successfully started the production of paper and board grades based on Silphie at the Koehler Paper plant in Greiz, Thuringia. At Koehler Paper, the Silphie paper will in future be produced in a basis weight range of 130-330 g/m² and thus be extended to board qualities. In the further course of the cooperation, work will also be done on higher basis weights. A combination of at least 35% silphie fibers and waste paper is realized in the paper and board qualities. “The partnership with Koehler Paper gives us the opportunity to put the production of Silphie paper on an even broader basis. With the new cardboard grades, we will be able to offer new product applications for the first time, especially in the field of folding boxes, such as for the cosmetics or food sectors," says Thomas Tappertzhofen, Managing Director of OutNature. The Koehler Group was founded in 1807 and has been family-run from the beginning to this day. The core business of the group, which also includes Koehler Paper, lies in the development and production of high-quality specialty papers. These include thermal paper, playing card board, coasters, fine paper, carbonless paper, recycled paper, decorative paper, ground wood board, sublimation paper and also innovative special paper for the packaging industry. With around 2,500 employees, the Koehler Group has five production sites in Germany and three more in the USA. “We see ourselves as technology drivers. We are constantly on the lookout for alternative raw materials and sensible resources that can be used in paper production," says Udo Hollbach, Managing Director of Koehler Paper at the Greiz site. "The Silphie fiber in combination with waste paper is another sensible solution to promote the circular economy in packaging, for example," adds Hollbach. With OutNature, PreZero has developed a completely new and regional source of raw materials for use in the paper industry based on the Danube silphie. And the silphie plant also offers farmers a future-proof perspective, as it is insect-friendly, stores CO2 in the soil and protects it from wind and water erosion.
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