OutNature, together with Koehler Paper to produce additional grades of silphie-based paper and board in the future
Neckarsulm/Greiz, September, 6 2022. OutNature, a brand of the environmental service provider PreZero is extending the production of Silphie paper on an industrial scale together with Koehler Paper. The two partners have successfully started the production of silphie-based paper and board grades at the Koehler paper mill in Greiz, Thuringia in July 2022.
The Silphie paper will be produced at Koehler Paper in a grammage range of 130-330 g/m² in the future and is thus extended to board grade. In the further course of the collaboration, higher grammages are also envisaged. A combination of at least 35 % silphie-based fibers and recycled paper is achieved in the paper and board grades.
“Our partnership with Koehler Paper provides us with the opportunity to set up the production of Silphie paper on a broader basis. With the new board qualities, we will be able to offer new product applications for the first time, especially in the collapsible carton sector, e.g. for cosmetics or food,” says Thomas Tappertzhofen, managing director of OutNature enthusiastically.
The Koehler Group was founded in 1807 and has been a family-run business from the beginning until today. The core business of the group, which also includes Koehler Paper, is the development and production of high-quality specialty paper. This includes thermal paper, playing cardboard, drink coasters, fine paper, carbonless paper, recycled paper, decor paper, ground wood pulp board, sublimation paper and also innovative specialty paper for the packaging industry. The Koehler Group has approximately 2,500 employees at five production sites in Germany, with three more being located in the USA.
“We see ourselves as drivers of technology. We are constantly on the lookout for alternative raw materials and sensible resources that can be used in the production of paper,“ says Udo Hollbach, managing director of Koehler Paper at the Greiz location. “The silphie fiber in combination with recycled 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 raw material source based on Danube silphie for use in the paper industry. And the silphium plant also offers a sustainable perspective for farmers, since it is insect-friendly. It also stores CO2 in the soil and protects it from wind and water erosion.
If you would like to learn more about the OutNature brand, please visit www.out-nature.de. More information about PreZero can be found at the press portal. Please find more information about Koehler Paper at www.koehlerpaper.com.
