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When it comes to thin, lightweight paper that is easy to use for packaging and decoration, which type of paper comes to your mind? Among these, pelure paper stands out with its superior thinness, aesthetic appeal, and flexibility. So, what is pelure paper? What notable characteristics does it have, and how is it classified today? Let’s explore these questions with Phong Nguyen!
What is Pelure Paper?
Pelure paper, also known as moisture-absorbent paper, is a type of thin, lightweight, and durable paper with good moisture resistance.
Depending on its intended use and quality standards set by different manufacturers, it can be made from either virgin pulp or recycled pulp. Thanks to its specialized pulp composition and optimized production process, pelure paper achieves an ideal thinness (typically ranging from 17gsm to 30gsm) while maintaining a certain level of durability and strength.
Characteristics of Pelure Paper
Pelure paper possesses several outstanding features, offering numerous benefits to users:
Moisture Resistance
Pelure paper has a moderate moisture-absorbing capability, helping to protect products from ambient humidity. This property makes pelure paper suitable for preserving items like clothing, footwear, or products prone to mold and mildew. However, pelure paper is not a specialized moisture-proof paper and is only suitable for short-term storage.
Lightweight and Thin
With a very low weight, pelure paper is much thinner than conventional paper like A4 paper (which is around 70gsm – 80gsm). This characteristic makes pelure paper one of the lightest types of industrial paper. In the packaging of premium garments, pelure paper protects product surfaces without significantly adding to the package’s weight.
Explore more: The Ultimate Guide To Proper Product Packaging
Good Strength
Despite being thin, pelure paper offers better tensile strength than other thin papers. This strength provides an additional protective layer during shipping, especially when items shift or bump into each other. This feature is particularly useful when packaging small items, irregularly shaped products, or items with sharp edges.
Easy to Dye and Print On
Pelure paper is made from thin and fine cellulose fibers, creating a surface with a certain level of porosity. This structure allows ink and dyes to absorb evenly into the surface, preventing blotching or smudging, unlike some glossy or coated papers.
Smooth Surface
The extremely fine fiber structure of pelure paper creates a smooth, soft surface. It feels pleasant to the touch and does not scratch or damage the items it wraps. For this reason, pelure paper is often used to line high-end fabrics or wrap fragile items to prevent scuffing and color transfer.
Read more: How To Pack Fragile Items Safely?
Eco-Friendly
Pelure paper is typically produced from recycled pulp or virgin pulp that is biodegradable, making it a sustainable packaging option. After use, pelure paper can also be recycled, contributing to reducing environmental impact.
Common Types of Pelure Paper
With its advantages such as product protection, dust and scratch resistance, and moisture absorption, pelure paper is becoming increasingly popular. To meet diverse market demands, pelure paper is classified based on several criteria:
By Weight (Thickness)
- Ultra-thin (17gsm – 22gsm): Used for wrapping delicate items such as clothing, cosmetics, jewelry, or food.
- Medium-weight (25gsm – 30gsm): Offers better durability, suitable for packaging shoes, handbags, or electronics.
- Thick (above 30gsm): Provides optimal protection for fragile items such as ceramics, glassware, or industrial products.
By Surface Finish
- Glossy on both sides: Creates a luxurious appearance, ideal for cosmetics, jewelry, or premium apparel.
- Glossy on one side, matte on the other: Combines aesthetics and functionality — one side enhances visual appeal, while the matte side improves grip and prevents slipping.
- Matte on both sides: Used for wrapping fragile items like ceramics and glass to avoid scratching.
By Origin
- Domestic pelure paper: Affordable pricing and stable supply.
- Imported pelure paper: Offers higher quality and greater variety but at a higher cost.
By Color
- White pelure paper: Natural, slightly translucent, soft, and safe — widely used in packaging and printing.
- Colored pelure paper: Highly decorative, suitable for gift wrapping, fashion packaging, or decorative purposes.
By Packaging Format
- Pelure paper rolls: Large rolls that businesses can cut to custom sizes.
- Pre-cut pelure paper sheets: Ready-to-use in standard sizes, convenient for small-scale or manual packaging.
Applications of Pelure Paper
Pelure paper has become a versatile material used across many industries. Its most common applications include:
Product Packaging for Shipping
Thanks to its lightweight, soft texture, flexibility, and aesthetic appeal, pelure paper is the ideal packaging material. For scratch-prone products like shoes, bags, jewelry, and crafts, it is used to line packaging interiors or wrap around products to prevent friction and protect surfaces.
Especially for premium products, pelure paper enhances the sense of luxury while ensuring the product maintains its quality during transportation. Brands can choose white pelure paper, colored pelure paper, or even customize printed pelure paper to enhance the aesthetic appeal of their packages.
Maintaining Product Form
In the fashion industry, maintaining the shape of products is a crucial factor to ensure they remain in their best form when reaching customers. Pelure paper is inserted inside the toe box and body of shoes to help retain their shape and prevent creasing or deformation during transportation and storage.
This type of paper is also used to fill handbags and clutches, helping them maintain their structure and avoid collapsing during shipping.
Lining and Wrapping Dry Food
Particularly white pelure paper is widely used in the food industry thanks to its light oil-absorbing properties and chemical-free composition. For items like candies, cookies, or dried fruits, pelure paper serves as a direct wrapper, keeping products clean and hygienic.
Printing
When printing with multiple ink layers, excess ink may not dry fast enough, leading to ink transfer between paper sheets. Pelure paper is placed between the printed layers, forming a protective barrier that prevents ink from one sheet from sticking to the next, thereby preserving the quality of the printed product.
Gift Wrapping
Both white and colored pelure paper are commonly used as inner liners or as outer gift wraps, adding a touch of elegance and care to the presentation. For small gifts, it can be wrapped directly around the item, paired with ribbons or stickers for quick yet beautiful packaging.
Conclusion
Pelure paper is a highly versatile material with many outstanding qualities. Its lightweight softness, protective ability, and aesthetic appeal make it a preferred choice across various industries. Understanding its characteristics and types allows you to select the most suitable pelure paper for your specific needs.
We hope this article from Phong Nguyen has provided you with valuable insights into pelure paper and its wide range of applications. To discover more about packaging materials, stay tuned for our upcoming articles packed with helpful information!