Saving money is good, but saving money and the environment is even better. ECOPAQUE is the new high-opacity, earth-friendly alternative to uncoated freesheet. This high whiteness offset paper made by AbitibiBowater is designed to raise standards while keeping costs down.

Because this high-yield paper is so opaque, ECOPAQUE users can switch from their usual uncoated freesheet basis weight to a lower basis weight ECOPAQUE – and still get the look and feel of the higher weight. Click here to enlarge the opacity chart below.

Available in 42.5 lb., 45 lb. and 50 lb. rolls, ECOPAQUE has the opacity of a much heavier basis weight premium opaque offset paper – without the premium cost. That means less paper to buy, but also less paper to ship and handle – another savings. For those using the mail, that’s less paper to mail – and potentially lower postal costs.

ECOPAQUE represents a true breakthrough for mechanical-pulp based paper due to its high CIE whiteness of 120 and ISO brightness of 90 – the first mechanical-pulp based paper to reach these whiteness and brightness levels – enabling freesheet offset users to easily switch and save – both economically and environmentally. 

It’s the environmental savings that are really compelling to those looking for a greener offset.  ECOPAQUE uses about half the wood fiber of a traditional uncoated freesheet does.  In fact, if you compare ECOPAQUE to even an uncoated freesheet paper that has 50 percent recycled content, ECOPAQUE still uses less wood fiber. Click here to enlarge the wood fiber chart below.

How is this possible?
The answer lies in the differences between the pulps used to make these papers. ECOPAQUE is made with only mechanical pulp whereas uncoated freesheet is made with kraft pulp.

Mechanical pulp is made from a process where the wood fiber is mechanically ground and pulverized. In this process, the lignin, or glue, in the wood fiber is retained, and the grinding process creates lots of tiny fibrils with high surface area. This gives the pulp a high opacity.

In the kraft pulping process, the lignin is dissolved away before separating the fibers, leading to intact fibers with low surface area and low opacity. The yield of this dissolution process is only about 50 percent, so about twice as much wood is needed for the same weight of pulp.

That is why a sheet of 42.5 lb. or 45 lb. ECOPAQUE has a higher opacity than a 50 lb. uncoated freesheet. From books to bills, ECOPAQUE is ideal for any commercial printing job that traditionally uses uncoated freesheet.

Sustainable Practices
The fiber used in ECOPAQUE comes from sustainable woodlands certified to credible and globally recognized Sustainable Forestry Management standards and is independently audited.

The manufacturing mill in Beaupre, Quebec uses hydroelectricity, which reduces the amount of fossil fuel used and also lowers greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent. Finally, this paper is manufactured totally chlorine-free – another environmental plus. 

To order a sample packet of ECOPAQUE, please e-mail SampleRoom@abibow.com. Click the link below to download a PDF of the ECOPAQUE brochure.

7/16/08

ECOPAQUE Brochure (PDF 1787 KB)