Circular economy in the paper industry: Gmund Papier and Louisenthal
Sustainability from the neighborhood
Gmund Papier and Louisenthal are realizing a project with old banknotes
Gmund Papier is located in the Mangfall Valley on Lake Tegernsee. For almost 200 years, sustainable design papers have been produced here for the whole world. Not far away, along the Mangfall River, is the Louisenthal paper mill, which manufactures specialty paper for banknotes and identification documents worldwide. Louisenthal is an international market leader in high-tech paper products and security features. The two companies are neighbors and share a commitment to sustainability. Their latest joint project is particularly unusual. In this project, special fibers extracted from banknotes that are no longer in circulation are used by Gmund Papier to produce new paper. Here, the fibers from the used banknotes are given a new lease of life as a raw material and are carefully processed into special paper.
Sustainability meets innovation
The fiber material, obtained through an innovative process called G+D Banknote Fiber Extraction (BFE®), provides an ideal basis for the production of new paper of all grammages. This means that the applications are virtually limitless for paper products of all kinds.
The look and feel can be tailored to resemble the original material, and tiny banknote particles serve as a subtle reference to the history of banknotes. These inclusions hint at the original origin of the raw material. Despite the paper’s unique appearance, the surface is soft and smooth, making it ideal for further processing, e.g., in printing.
Gmund Papier is also committed to saving new resources through recycling and the resulting increase in sustainable paper production in other areas. This is why this neighborhood project fits in so well with the company’s philosophy. By integrating recycled fibers from used cotton-based banknotes, a high-quality paper product is created from a material that was originally a waste product.
A partnership-based path to greater sustainability
As paper mills, both Gmund Papier and Louisenthal are looking for innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact. Gmund Papier is committed to sustainable energy supply, has successfully implemented water-saving technologies, and uses both alternative fibers and recycled materials. Through their joint project, Gmund Papier and Louisenthal are now working together to strengthen the creation of a circular economy in the paper industry.