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Paper Calculator 4.0 Paper Grade Category Applications
Confused about which paper grade to choose in the Paper Calculator? Try checking this resource for descriptions and some of the common product applications for each grade. If you are still confused, don’t worry, it’s a technical matter and a common question. We recommend you contact your paper producer/supplier to obtain specific details about your paper or contact us at info@environmentalpaper.org with questions.
| Paper Grade | Description | Abbreviated Examples | Expanded Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated Freesheet | Uncoated printing and writing papers, usually bleached, made with kraft chemical pulp | Copy paper | Copy paper, inkjet/laser paper, letterhead, stationery, some higher-end notebook and lined writing paper, envelopes, fine book papers, text and cover grades (often beautiful designer papers), report covers, “post-it” notes, some brochures, invitations, some business cards, some menus, thin Bible paper |
| Coated Freesheet | Coated papers containing a base sheet made with kraft chemical pulp, with a coating, commonly made from kaolin clay. | High-end catalog or brochure | High-end catalogs, magazines, luxury advertising, and brochures |
| Uncoated Groundwood | Uncoated papers made from groundwood mechanical pulp | Newsprint | Newspaper, newsprint, directory papers (e.g., phone books), inexpensive paperback books, some lined writing papers |
| Coated Groundwood | Coated papers containing a base sheet made primarily with groundwood mechanical pulp, with a coating, commonly kaolin clay | Mass-market catalogs, magazines | Mass-market catalogs and magazines, mass-market advertising on “slick” paper |
| Supercalendered | Supercalendered papers have been smoothed through an extra high-pressure roller process after paper-making in order to produce a highly polished smooth paper surface. | Newspaper inserts | Newspaper inserts, grocery and drug store advertising papers, some bulk mailbox advertisements, some mass-market catalogs and magazines |
| Paperboard: Solid Bleached Sulfate (SBS) | Most bleached paperboard is coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay to improve its printing surface and may be also coated with polyethylene (PE) resin for wet strength food packaging. SBS is most popular in the United States and is used to make such products as packaging, folding cartons and set-up boxes. | Medicine and food packaging, beverage (milk/juice) cartons | (White inside) - Food packaging for perishables and some frozen foods; cartons for products such as baked goods, ice cream, milk and juice; also often packaging for pharmaceuticals and medicines, candy, perfumes, cosmetics, high-priced toys |
| Paperboard: Coated Unbleached Kraft (CUK) | Most unbleached or natural kraft paperboard is coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay to improve its printing surface and may be also coated with polyethylene (PE) resin for wet strength food packaging. | Beverage carriers such as for beer and soft drinks | Beverage carriers for beer and soft drinks, some packaging for frozen foods or hardware |
| Paperboard: Coated Recycled Board (CRB) | Paperboard grade produced from 100% recycled fiber including old container packaging, newspapers, box board clippings and selected white papers, typically coated with a thin layer of kaolin clay to improve its printing surface. | Packaging for dry foods such as cereal, crackers, etc. | Typically gray inside – packaging for dry foods such as cereal, pasta, rice, cookies, crackers, pet food. Made with 100% recycled fiber and coated |
| Paperboard: Uncoated Bleached Kraft (UBK) | Paperboard grade produced from wood pulp or recycled fiber. Kraft pulp is darker than other wood pulps, but is bleached to make very white pulp. | Shoe or gift box (bleached) | Boxes for paper goods such as envelopes and stationery, shoe boxes, gift boxes, etc. |
| Paperboard: Uncoated Unbleached Kraft (UUK) | Paperboard grade produced from wood pulp or recycled fiber. Uncoated, unbleached (natural brown color) | Shoe or gift box (unbleached) | Boxes for paper goods such as envelopes and stationery, shoe boxes, gift boxes, hardware, powdered laundry detergents |
| Paperboard: Uncoated Recycled Board | Paperboard grade produced from 100% recycled paperboard including old containers, newspapers, box board clippings and selected whites. Represents the single largest market for recovered paper in the United States. Commonly known as "chipboard.” Made with 100% recycled fiber and uncoated | Shoe or gift box made with 100% recycled fiber | Boxes for paper goods such as envelopes and stationery, candy, perfume, shoe boxes, gift boxes, etc. |
| Linerboard | A strong coarse paper, usually brown, that may be used as the facings on corrugated containers but also can be used to make kraft wrapping paper, grocery bags and similar products. | Butcher paper, grocery bags | Butcher paper, kraft wrapping paper, grocery bags, gummed sealing tape, multi-wall sacks |
| Corrugated Container | Boxes made from two different kinds of paper: Linerboard is used for facing paper on both the inside and outside of the box. Corrugating Medium is a fluted layer of paper between the two facings to provide strength and ability to withstand crushing. The Paper Calculator is calibrated to compute the impacts from the typical percentage of each type of paper used in corrugated containers. | Shipping boxes | Shipping boxes, bankers boxes, pizza boxes, boxes for large and/or heavy items such as computer and TV equipment or appliances, cartons of multiple reams of paper |
| Tissue | Tissue products are soft, thin, pliable, and absorbent sheets of paper. The primary tissue paper products and the ones included in the Paper Calculator 4.0 are paper towels, paper napkins, bathroom/toilet tissues and facial tissues. They are disposable products typically designed for a single use. | Toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, and facial tissue | Toilet paper, hand paper towels, kitchen paper towels, facial tissues such as brand name “Kleenex”, and table napkins |
