White VS primary color: Which color baking paper is more environmentally friendly?

You have most likely seen and used white and unbleached baking paper, but have you ever wondered what the difference is? Is it just a different colour, or is there a real difference? Which is more environmentally friendly?

Both types of baking paper are made from virgin wood pulp fibres and do not contain ink or chemical residues. Wood contains a substance called lignin, which makes tree trunks strong and upright. Lignin is naturally brown and in order to produce white paper, it is removed from the wood fibres by bleaching. Today’s bleaching processes are very advanced and safe, without the use of harmful chemicals. Metsä Tissue’s greaseproof paper is produced using modern chlorine-free ECF technology to ensure that it meets the highest hygiene requirements.

The difference between white and unbleached baking paper is that Unbleached baking paper contains more lignin compounds. This can affect the taste and smell of food and, while not harmful, may not be acceptable for the end use application. For example, it is not recommended for wrapping chocolate or tea for a long period of time.

White baking paper is preferred for professional use Professional kitchens and industrial food processing have high hygiene standards, so it is particularly important to avoid possible contamination and non-compliance. White baking paper is more popular for professional use because it shows impurities faster and more clearly, and the obvious contrast between food and paper can quickly detect deviations from the standard.

The environmental impact of white and unbleached baking paper is evenly divided
Although unbleached baking paper may seem more environmentally friendly, in fact both colors of paper are equally environmentally friendly.

White baking paper actually has a lower environmental impact in the manufacturing process.

Unbleached baking paper requires more energy to produce. This is because it contains more wood compounds and requires higher standards of refining, so the production speed is slower. The energy consumption per ton of product is 20kwh more than bleached baking paper. In order to ensure that baking paper is safe for contact with food, it must be carefully selected for raw materials, tested for finished products, and the entire production process is carefully supervised and certified by third-party agencies.