MATERIAL INNOVATION

PAPERTEX

At FibreLab, we are dedicated to finding design-led solutions to textile waste that preserve the value of materials without causing environmental harm. PaperTex, our proprietary material innovation, is a fully circular paper product made from 100% recycled textile waste that comes directly from our clients’ waste streams. 

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PaperTex can be used for a wide range of applications, including branding and packaging materials to event invitations and stationery.

After use, all PaperTex products can be recycled again with conventional paper recycling, ensuring a convenient circular solution for users. 

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Available in multiple sizes and individual sheets as fine artist papers with the largest sizes being SRA2

Suitable for a variety of different printing techniques, including digital printing, letterpress, embossing and debossing finishing.

We do our digital printing in-house, using a specialist printer that is designed for textured surfaces. This allows us to keep our costs and minimum order quantities low and easily accessible to small businesses.

Other printing processes we offer are letterpress, embossing and foiling, all carried out by our team at the London Centre for Book Arts

How it works

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Waste textiles are sorted by fibre type and colour, ensuring that contaminants are removed to protect the quality of the recycled fibre. The sorted fabrics are then shredded into a recycled fibre with our custom-built mechanical shredding machine.

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The recycled fibres are sent to one of the last artisan paper mills in the UK. They use a Hollander beater that is over 100 years old to blend the recycled fibres with water to create a paper pulp. This process cannot be replicated by conventional paper mills at a mass scale—only traditional processes like this one can produce PaperTex.

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Each sheet is made by hand using a mould and deckle and then hung to dry. This heritage, paper-making method ensures that there are no chemicals, dyes or binders used in the manufacturing of the papers. All PaperTex products can be recycled continuously through domestic paper recycling bins.

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FAQs

    • Each PaperTex sheet is made from 100% recycled, natural-fibre textile waste. PaperTex primarily consists of cotton, but can be blended with other natural fibres like linen, silk, and even leather to create sheets.

    • Yes, PaperTex is fully recyclable through domestic paper recycling, so just put it in with your other paper recycling for collection by your local council.

    • Alternatively, if you have a large quantity of PaperTex that you want recycled, you can return it directly to FibreLab and we will reprocess it into a new PaperTex product. This preserves the quality of the paper and means PaperTex can be endlessly recycled.

    • PaperTex is made at SRA2 size, but can be ordered cut down to the following sizes:

      • SRA2 (deckled edge, uncut)

      • A2

      • A3

      • A4

      • A5

      • A6

    • Please visit our shop for more information

    • Yes, custom orders of PaperTex require a minimum of 25 kilos of textile waste which will produce roughly 250 sheets of SRA2 paper. The size, weight and colour can all be customised. Please get in touch via the form above.

    • Individual A6 samples can be purchased on our shop under ‘Individual Sheets’. Please select all colours you are interested in.

    • PaperTex can be used for a variety of applications including:

      • Artist paper for painting and drawing

      • Printing media for a range of traditional printing processes

      • Paper products like invitations, notecards, envelopes and swing tags

      • Packaging

      • Window displays and art installations

    • Yes, PaperTex is tested and performs well with traditional printing processes such as lithography, letterpress, screen print, foil, emboss and deboss

    • PaperTex is not tested on domestic or laser printers, but can be digitally printed by FibreLab’s specialist OKI printer

    • All paints, inks, pens and pencils work well on PaperTex, and is especially suited for watercolours or screen printing

    • Translucent media might not show up as well on the Denim and Charcoal coloured PaperTex, as with any dark material