Sustainable paper innovation instead of disposal

A central component of Paper & Tea's commitment to sustainability is efficient waste management to reduce environmental impact. In practice, this means avoiding waste, closing cycles and making optimal use of resources. This is how the idea of ??recycling unavoidable residues, such as tea residues from aroma samples and rejects, came about. With the support of Gmund Papier, dry residues are now used to produce high-quality paper with a ten percent tea content, creating a new design product.

Jean-Philippe Aiguier, Director Sustainability at Paper & Tea, explains: “It was an easy decision for us to choose the paper manufacturer Gmund as a partner. When it comes to environmental protection, the company sets standards and enthusiastically develops sustainable solutions. This means that Gmund not only takes on a pioneering role, but is also the perfect partner with whom we can achieve our own goals.”

Gmund Papier combines tradition with future solutions

Gmund Papier stands for paper production at the highest level. High-quality designer papers for sustainable brand appearances have been produced in Gmund am Tegernsee for generations. Energy efficiency, state-of-the-art technology and environmental protection are the paper manufacturer's top priorities. Like Paper & Tea, Gmund Papier has also created multi-value solutions for its own waste. Careful recycling of production residues is one of many measures. Every Gmund paper therefore has a pre-consumer recycling share of around 20%.

In Greenfibra Labs, a spin-off of the paper manufacturer Gmund, sustainable packaging solutions and the use of alternative plant fibers are researched. This is where the basis for the development of the new tea paper is created.

Sabrina Gassner, project manager of the partnership and paper expert from Gmund, emphasizes the importance of the collaboration: “Inspiration and authentic commitment to our environment make Paper & Tea the perfect partner who has the same goals in mind: to protect our planet through innovative ideas and product developments and to create sustainable added value for our customers.”

Visual features make each tea paper unique

The new Paper & Tea tea paper is already used for the outer box of the Tea for Tomorrow Advent calendar, the company's own business cards and the menu cards in the Paper & Tea stores. In contrast to conventional paper, the ingredients are also optically visible. This makes each paper unique.

Other products are also being converted; for example, the Origin labels are made from 100% Gmund hemp paper and the chocolate packaging is made from Gmund Colors Matt paper.

About Gmund Paper

Gmund Paper has stood for paper culture and the ecological production of unique communication media from natural paper since 1829. The pulp used in all Gmund papers is FSC-certified. At the development and production site in Gmund am Tegernsee, tailor-made solutions for sustainable brand presence are created. Around 75 percent of the paper is exported. Gmund Papier is family-owned and is now managed by Florian Kohler in the fourth generation.

www.gmund.com

About Paper & Tea

Since 2011, Paper & Tea has combined the timeless tradition of tea with modern design and high-quality products. Under the leadership of Goran Pavlic, Managing Director since 2021, the company has experienced remarkable growth. In 2024, Paper & Tea is continuing its expansion strategy consistently and is present with over 36 stores not only in the DACH region, but also beyond. By the end of the year, the inspiring brand world will be found in other vibrant cities in Benelux and Scandinavia and will continuously expand the strong network. According to the German Retail Association (HDE), the location in Hanover is one of the top three "Stores of the Year 2024".

Each store has a specially designed tea bar that invites visitors to tastings and introduces the product range to visitors. The high-quality teas, tea chocolates, accessories and stationery are also available in the online shop. Strong partnerships with leading retail, hotel and catering companies such as Zeit für Brot, Breuninger, KaDeWe and Harrods ensure a carefully curated product selection that meets the highest standards.

www.paperandtea.de