Tissue Paper Packaging
Sustainable Tissue Paper for Thoughtful Unboxing & Product Protection
Make your shipping choices sustainable down to the smallest detail.
EcoEnclose tissue paper is a thin, lightweight, and soft paper designed to protect products, elevate presentation, and reduce environmental impact. Made from 100 percent recycled paper fibers, it adds a refined layer to your packaging without plastic, coatings, or unnecessary waste.
Whether you are wrapping apparel, lining retail boxes, or creating a premium unboxing moment, tissue paper provides gentle cushioning, visual polish, and a tactile experience customers notice.
FSC® Certified
Made with FSC® certified recycled paper fiber.
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 that reinforces your brand without overwhelming the unboxing moment. Subtle logos, patterns, or messaging turn a simple wrap into a thoughtful brand touchpoint customers interact with before they even reach the product.
EcoEnclose custom tissue paper is printed with low coverage, water based or algae based inks and designed to remain recyclable at end of life, so you can elevate presentation while staying aligned with your sustainability goals.
Use 1,000+ packaging units each week? Design completely customized tissue paper tailored to your brand.
Definitive Guide to Tissue Paper
What Is Tissue Paper?
Tissue paper is a very thin, lightweight paper made from wood pulp or recycled fibers. It is known for its low basis weight, softness, and gently crinkled texture created through a process called creping. These qualities make tissue paper ideal for wrapping, light cushioning, and presentation, all without adding bulk or unnecessary shipping weight.
Because it is flexible and easy to handle, tissue paper is widely used to protect products from scuffs, enhance visual appeal, and create a more intentional unboxing experience.
What Makes Tissue Paper Eco-Friendly?
For tissue paper to be truly eco-friendly, it needs to go beyond surface-level claims. At EcoEnclose, we evaluate tissue paper using our Sustainable Packaging Framework, with a focus on the materials, recyclability, and manufacturing practices that shape real environmental impact.
Below are the key standards we prioritize when sourcing and producing tissue paper.
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 contains 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. Its 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.
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, focusing on 100% recycled from an environmental stance is much better. 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 FSC® certification (FSC® MIX, SCS-COC-009926) for our tissue paper, which comes from 100% recycled inputs. By choosing FSC® certified products, you support responsible management of the world’s forests.
Choosing Your Ideal Tissue Paper
All EcoEnclose tissue paper options are 100 percent recycled, plastic-free, and designed to support clean recycling streams. The right choice depends on your brand aesthetic, order volume, and the role tissue plays in your unboxing experience.
Explore the available tissue paper options below to find the right fit for you.
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.
What is tissue paper?
Tissue is also aesthetically pleasing - whether it is white, Kraft, or custom printed - making it a great choice to add a personal and stylish touch to a gift or shipment.
But first, what makes tissue different from standard paper or packaging paper? This is largely due to the way it is manufactured, which allows for the paper to be so thin and so smooth. Tissue is produced on a unique paper machine fitted with a Yankee cylinder. The Yankee cylinder is sprayed with adhesive to make the paper stick to it. A doctor’s blade then scrapes the dry paper off. The thinness, creping and wet strength of tissue is controlled by the amount and strength of adhesive, the pulp used, additives that are put into the pulp, the speed at which the machine is being run, and the shape and size of the doctor’s blade.
What makes EcoEnclose tissue paper unique?
When should I use tissue paper in my packaging?
- 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.
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!
What shipping accessories should I consider?
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.
Should I recycle or compost my tissue paper?
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.