Tissue Paper
Enhance your eco-friendly unboxing experience and increase perceived value to increase referrals and repeat business. Our tissue paper is minimally printed and has no glitter or plastic, making it a friendly addition to the recycling or compost bin.
FSC® Certified
Fibers made with 100% FSC® Certified recycled content. May include additives and ink.
PCW Content
Made with 20% post-consumer waste that has been diverted from landfills.
Plastic-Free
Paper fibers do not contain added synthetic polymers.
Curbside Recyclable
Recyclable for the facilities that ask you to recyle rather than compost tissue paper.
Compostable
Compostable for the facilities that ask you to compost rather than recycle tissue paper.
Made in USA
Utilizes local recycled inputs, transparent supply chain, lower transportation footprint.
Custom Tissue Paper
Create an exceptional customer experience with custom tissue paper. Add your unique branding starting at just 10 reams. Printed with HydroSoy or Algae Ink™, our tissue paper can be branded on one side in two colors.
Start DesigningRead Artwork Guidelines
Do you ship 1,000+ orders per week? Work with us on unique projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes Tissue Paper Eco-Friendly?
A web search for “sustainable tissue paper” results in many options and definitions. Unfortunately, we believe many companies pushing their tissue options as eco-friendly are greenwashing, simply trying to paint their offering as sustainable even though they could - and should - be doing better. For example, you’ll frequently find tissue purporting to be “sustainable” only to discover that they are 100% virgin, digitally printed, or made in nontransparent manufacturing operations.
For tissue to be truly eco-friendly, we believe it should build as closely as possible to our Sustainable Packaging Framework.
100% Recycled Content:
Seek tissue made with 100% recycled paper fibers and as much post-consumer waste as possible. Goods made with recycled content use less energy and water and create less pollution than virgin counterparts. Buying goods made with recycled content makes it possible for us and the businesses that serve us to recycle.
EcoEnclose tissue is made with 100% recycled paper fibers and 20% post-consumer waste.
Recyclable:
Seek tissue that is recyclable at end-of-life. Recycling enables the raw materials to be used again and keeps goods out of the landfill. Tissue is recyclable when facilities accept it, and compostable for the small group of waste management providers that ask you to compost rather than recycle it. Ensure your tissue is free of glitter, foils, and other non-paper additions to keep our recycling and composting streams clean.
EcoEnclose tissue is free of all plastic, foil, glitter, and other additives that can contaminate recyclers and composters.
Processed Chlorine-Free:
Seek tissue that is processed without bleach, chlorine, chlorine derivatives and is either not re-bleached or bleached with an oxygen-based system.
Until 30 years ago, paper mills used elemental chlorine to bleach pulp. When that chlorine combined with the lignins, it produced furans and dioxin (a carcinogen) that ended up in wastewater. The EPA then established requirements for paper mills requiring them to phase out elemental chlorine. Most mills now use chlorine dioxide, which produces fewer dioxins. The idea of paper produced “ECF” or elemental chlorine-free is a standard that is relevant only for virgin paper. Unfortunately, no paper mills in the US are currently able to eliminate chlorine from their bleaching process.
EcoEnclose tissue is "PCF" or processed chlorine-free. The concept of PCF applies to recycled paper; the process uses peroxide, oxygen, or ozone (and no chlorine) to bleach the recycled pulp. While not all paper needs bleaching, any white or light paper does, so we are proud that our tissue is 100% recycled and PCF.
Printed With Minimal Ink:
Seek tissue with relatively low ink coverage and water- or soy-based inks. When ink coverage is high, or the entire sheet is dyed a different color, these pigments can contaminate recycling and composting. Avoid digitally printed tissue as this is often printed with toner that contain plastics.
EcoEnclose tissue is printed with water-based or Algae Ink at low ink coverages to ensure clean recycling and compost streams.
Transparent Supply Chain:
Seek domestically-made tissue paper packaging with transparent manufacturing processes. Like all packaging, it is often produced overseas, in manufacturing facilities that provide little transparency into labor conditions, ethics, and environmental processes. It's production is water and heat-intensive and can be challenging for workers, so this level of clarity is critical.
EcoEnclose tissue is proudly made in the USA in a facility we have visited ourselves.
A Note on FSC®-certification: Some companies focus on FSC®-certification. While we agree that FSC®-certified paper is far better than virgin paper from unknown sources, it is much better to focus on 100% recycled from an environmental stance. FSC®-certified paper can come directly from a tree (potentially from ancient and endangered forests) whose stored carbon is released into the environment when cut down.
We carry trademark certification (FSC-N003558) for our Tissue paper, which comes from 100% recycled inputs. By choosing FSC®-certified products, you are supporting responsible management of the world’s forests.
Choosing Your Ideal Tissue Paper
All of our tissue is made with 100% recycled, made in the USA, and use water-based inks when printed. Choose your best option based on your budget, desired minimum order quantity, and commitment to eco-friendly inks. Also learn why we currently do not offer colored or digitally printed tissue.
Regardless of whether or not you choose custom branding, tissue adds a level of sophistication and luxury to the unboxing experience. A Package inSight study showed that 76% of respondents are likelier to recommend a brand that wraps package contents in tissue. However, we know that custom tissue paper, branded with your logo or design, can take that further. That same study showed:
- Items wrapped in decorative tissue paper inside a package were valued 24% higher than the same items packaged with traditional void fill.
- 77% of participants felt joy or surprise at the sight of branded tissue.
- 86% of participants reported that their impression of a brand was improved when packaged with branded tissue.
White
Plain white with no print offers a clean and crisp aesthetic. The 10# paper weight is thin, pliable, semi-translucent, and stylishly dotted with darker specs which draws attention to the recycled content.
1 ream minimum, ships in 1-2 business days
Kraft
Plain Kraft with no print offers a clean and crisp aesthetic. The 10# paper weight is thin, pliable, semi-translucent, and stylishly dotted with darker specs which draws attention to the recycled content.
1 ream minimum, ships in 1-2 business days
Eco-Designed
Stock designs spruce up your packaging quickly at a low price. All are printed flexographically with water-based inks in low-coverage designs to meet our sustainability standards.
1 ream minimum, ships in 1-2 business days
Custom Branded
Custom brand with your unique design. Choose from white or Kraft tissue and 1- or 2-color prints. All are printed flexographically with water-based inks in low-coverage designs to meet our sustainability standards.
10 ream minimum, ship time varies
Digitally Printed
Digital printing has hit the market; however, we have chosen not to print our tissue digitally at this time. This tissue is often printed with toner ink, an ink type that contains polymers (plastic) that adhere to the substrate. While digitally printed tissue can be printed at much lower minimum order quantities, the downside is that your tissue contains tiny plastic particles. These particles are fine for recycling at low ink coverages, but we hate the thought of this getting composted and leaching into our soils.
Colored
Tissue paper packaging is often found in a countless variety of colors. However, we've chosen to only offer white and Kraft at this time. Yes, solid colors look great and make a lovely addition to packaging or gift bags. However, these solutions aren’t as sustainable for end-of-life. Tissue needs to be recycled or composted, so high levels of ink and pigment pose challenges to paper repulpers and brings pigment contamination into the compost, which eventually becomes part of our soils.
Additional Questions
There are many ways to use tissue in your shipments! For non-fragile items that need dust protection and packaging pizazz, here are some use case ideas to get you started:
- Wrap items in tissue paper sheets, including books, prints, apparel, accessories, and jewelry.
- Create a decorative “nest” out of tissue in a box to lay your products on.
- Fold tissue over your prints and photos.
- Use gift tissue paper to bring a decorative touch to retail and gift bags.
When designing your packaging strategy and how you plan to incorporate tissue into it, think about how your customer will receive and open the package. How can you use tissue to create a fun, anticipatory unwrapping experience?
It is critical to note that tissue is not a damage protection solution. It would be best if you used it for decorative purposes, dust protection, and scuff protection. It does not serve as a void fill or dunnage and won’t protect fragile items from breaking. If you are looking to fill spaces in your box or protect fragile items, look for other eco-friendly protective packaging solutions, including:
Ornament Paper Shred
Made by slitting rolls of indented Kraft paper, Ornament Paper Shred results in a beautiful decorative paper that can be used to create a nest in a box or bag. If you use tissue as a bed within a box or bag, we encourage you to check out ornament paper shred as well, in case it works better for your needs or is more aesthetically pleasing for you and better matches your packaging vision.
Packaging Paper
A traditional void fill that is balled or crinkled up to fill space in a shipping box. Also used to wrap products for some protection and presentation. We recommend rolls simply because they help you use only the amount of paper you need at any given time, which is good for the environment and your bottom line. There are quite a few types of packing paper, with different thicknesses, textures, colors, and moldability. We at EcoEnclose offer five different types.
Corrugated Bubble
Sheets of shredded corrugated that can be wrapped around items or rolled up and used to fill empty spaces. If you’re consistently packaging the same product, these can be cut to a specific size, eliminating the need to tear paper or cut bubble wrap.
GreenWrap
This wonderful product can be molded around items to provide cushioning and padded protection. Imagine bubble wrap but in paper instead of plastic. Being paper-based, it is naturally biodegradable, compostable, and fully recyclable. The GreenWrap we sell is also made from certified sustainable sourced paper – Bonus!
While tissue can easily stand alone as the only shipping accessory you need, we often see companies adding beautiful finishing touches.
Renewable Hemp Twine
Hemp Twine can be used to tie your tissue paper packaging. Hemp twine is a natural fiber and is naturally biodegradable, and gives a rustic and creative finish to your packaging.
Recycled Custom Notecards
Many of our customers also use Custom Notecards, placing their notecards on top of their tissue for a true “gift” feel for their customers.
Zero Waste Custom Stickers
A sticker is a stylish way to seal tissue and add a brand touch to your packaging without the cost or minimums of custom tissue. Shop our eco-friendly 100% recycled paper stickers on our unique Zero Waste liner.
Most tissue on the market (including ours) is labeled as recyclable. We are very transparent that the end-of-life of tissue, unlike other paper-based packaging, depends mainly on the rules of a person’s local recyclers. However, for a municipality or waste management provider to accept an item for recycling, the provider must have the infrastructure to sort the material and profitable markets to sell to.
Tissue is relatively low grade and isn’t always easy for recyclers to find buyers willing to pay for it. Additionally, it is difficult for recyclers to sort without the correct machinery. Because of this, some recyclers don’t accept it (even if it is labeled as recyclable), and some of these operations ask that you compost your it instead - if your municipality has a composting service that can accept it.