We asked the directors of Papermon, Federica Monfardini and Alberto Marchetti, to tell us about their core values and the challenges to be faced
You founded Papermon over twenty years ago, leading it to grow and operate in twenty international markets, and you continue to invest your energies in this successful enterprise as if it were the first day. What are the forces that drive you and the values that characterize your corporate activity?
Each day is a new challenge, as scenarios change constantly, and nowadays evolve very quickly. The aim is to keep up, with a production process and a corporate structure that support the development we are experiencing. We provide all the passion that has characterized our work from the outset, the same passion that led us to start this enterprise and that still guides us in manufacturing our products with the utmost care. Twenty years of experience in this sector is of great help, but it is the enthusiasm for what we do that drives us day by day. We are also convinced of the importance of always paying close attention to the customer’s needs, both because it is fundamental to offer customized solutions, and because suggestions and ideas for innovation often come from them. Therefore, in general, relations with people are very important to us and we care a lot about acting correctly towards customers, suppliers and collaborators.
Many things have changed in production processes, in markets and in the way of doing business since Papermon was established. What are the main challenges you face to stay one step ahead?
Twenty years ago there was little focus on product quality and protection of the end consumer. Our idea has always been to create a product with high quality standards and therefore the changes in recent years have not found us unprepared. Our choice, undoubtedly against the trend today, to use colored paper for our colored tablecloths, offers proof of this. We have always believed in quality and in Made in Italy, which for us is synonymous with style, good taste and attention to detail. We invest continuously in state-of-the-art machinery to obtain increasingly better production performance, but also quality control of the product. All this always with an eye on safety and on the quality of the work of our employees. The goal for the future is to create an even leaner structure with simple processes, without overlaps, to meet the customers’ demands even more promptly and improve the quality of work internally.
One of the most important issues on the agenda in recent years is undoubtedly environmental, social and economic sustainability. How are you dealing with these aspects?
We have always believed sustainability to be an issue of the utmost importance and have been investing in this direction already for several years now. On an environmental level, we have just installed a photovoltaic system and replaced traditional lighting with low energy consumption LED devices to increase the energy efficiency of our production site. For us environmental sustainability means careful selection of the raw materials, careful choice of the supply chain and adopting production solutions that make our disposable table linen more sustainable. Various international certifications attest to the reduced environmental impact of our products, a fact of which we are proud. Moreover, with the increase in our production area, we have obtained more space and improved rationalization of production processes.
On a social level, we are convinced of the importance of keeping the production site in the territory where we were born, rather than relocate. In this way, the economic spin-offs of our activity remain here, contributing to the well-being of the community and growing local human resources. Although our market of reference is international, we sponsor some local organizations engaged in assisting and looking after underprivileged people or those in difficulty.
What will be the issues to be considered and the opportunities to be seized in the coming years, based on your vision of the future?
We believe that the issue of environmental sustainability will be crucial. One of the goals for the coming years is to increase energy self-sufficiency through the storage of energy produced by the photovoltaic panels. Knowing how to seize the opportunities offered by the different markets will be important in order to continue to grow, as will anticipating technological innovations to improve our products and the entire production process. We intend to structure ourselves to be ready for future challenges, but without any loss of agility. This aspect has always distinguished us and we do not want to sacrifice it to the growth process; on the contrary, it is where we want to aim.
Renewing our image: a contemporary perspective to incisively communicate our history, our values and our commitment for the future
We are renewing our corporate identity, introducing a new look and updating our communication tools. The new corporate identity epitomizes the history, values and essence of our company, with a view to clear and unequivocal communication with customers, partners and suppliers. Its definition is the result of a complex procedure, because it is the expression of what we are, as people and entrepreneurs, before what we do. So, underlying everything is a path that led us to reflect deeply on what characterizes us and on the issues that are close to our hearts.
Our new identity is expressed through a dynamic and modern visual style, evident in the images, colors and lettering of our new logo. The contemporary style expresses our ability to renew and keep pace with the times, without being disloyal to the deep roots of our history of more than twenty years. The new payoff “The different tablecloth” underscores our commitment to producing high quality disposable table linen Made in Italy. Everything starts from the raw materials that we select with the utmost care according to origin, composition and sustainability. We started out from paper, but not just any paper.
Besides visual renewal, we have also updated the texts to draw attention to what makes us unique in a highly competitive market: passion, quality and attention to the customer as fundamental pillars of our work, which translates into table linen with an unmistakable Italian creativity. Our communication is basically aimed at our B2B customers from the retail sectors, large scale distribution and the hospitality industry; consequently, the focus is on the technical aspects that underscore our commitment to ensuring the quality and sustainability of our table linen, certified by international certifications.
This is not merely a superficial makeover for a new look. A well-structured corporate identity not only sets us apart from competitors, but it also offers a distinctive advantage and consolidates our positioning in the disposable table linen manufacturing sector. It was the opportunity to reflect on our history and renew our commitment for the future.
The color of the year 2024 chosen by Pantone is Peach Fuzz, a new shade that inspires kindness and optimism
Pantone, the world authority on color, has announced its color of the year 2024, and this time it brings us “Peach Fuzz”, a shade that promotes sweetness, warmth and optimism. The selection process of the Pantone color of the year is a fascinating ritual that involves design and color experts and trendsetters from all over the world. The color selected represents a trend-setting declaration and influences a wide range of sectors, including fashion, interior design, graphics, cosmetics, to name but a few.
Peach Fuzz is a warm and welcoming shade that evokes feelings of calm, comfort and positivity. This delicate peach nuance has the power to transmit a feeling of optimism and wellbeing, making it the ideal choice for 2024, a year in which we hope to leave behind the challenges of recent years. Peach Fuzz symbolizes kindness and the desire to be close to those we love. Its soft and enveloping hue brings to mind the warm colors of a summer sunset or the sweetness of a ripe peach.
The color Peach Fuzz can be incorporated in a wide range of sectors and creative applications: from fashion to interior design and to graphic design of products, packaging and marketing materials. At Papermon, we have included this elegant and modern shade, which invites kindness and comfort and inspires us to create a better environment for ourselves and for others, in our table linen. Peach Fuzz is a versatile shade that can be easily combined with other colors. It is perfect with neutral shades such as white and grey for a fresh and modern look. It can also be used together with complementary shades like mint green, navy blue or coral for a stimulating visual effect.
Pantone’s Color of the Year 2024, Peach Fuzz, represents the idea of a warm embrace, an invitation to relax and spend enjoyable time with others. In a world that often seems chaotic, Peach Fuzz will without doubt be a bright presence in 2024.
The production of disposable table linen for the Christmas 2023 collection is proceeding at a brisk pace, but there is still time for last minute orders
Production of our disposable table linen for the Christmas 2023 collection is proceeding at a brisk pace to meet the demands of customers in the retail sector who already planned their Christmas supplies several months ago. Placing orders well in advance is essential in order to start the customization process of the table linen and establish correct production and delivery times. In fact, our private label products are made to measure to satisfy the specific needs of our customers, and require advance planning of the activities. Nevertheless, our organization allows us to fit in a few last minute orders.
Our Christmas Collection 2023 disposable table linen, produced in paper and airlaid, includes classic tablecloths in rolls, folded tablecloths and table runners, in the trendiest shades for this year’s festive season: gold, blue, black and silver. Each article in this Christmas collection is characterized by a harmonious blend of traditional patterns and color combinations created with a distinctive touch of Italian elegance and style. Our designers have made use of contemporary nuances, such as blue, green and black, without forgetting the classic red and gold. The tablecloths are embellished by prestigious metallic touches, among which gold and silver, combined with the purity of white and delicate nuances like pale blue. The result is an elegant and graceful atmosphere enveloping your Christmas tables. We have created original and festive patterns, reinterpreting snowflakes, ice crystals, stars, bells and Christmas plants. This blend between traditional and modern translates into tablecloths that catch the eye and make the festive table even more special.
For customers who require disposable table linen to match their sets of napkins and tableware, we offer a design and customized production service. Our products are a testament to the strong commitment to sustainability that distinguishes us: on request, they can be FSC® (FSC-C139999) certified and printed only with water based inks that offer an exceptional luster, even with metallic nuances, as well as reducing the environmental impact. Our airlaid table linen is available with OK Compost INDUSTRIAL certification, which allows it to be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. In this case, fully compostable water based inks can be used for prints, guaranteeing maximum eco-sustainability.
The company is expanding with the addition of a further 8,000 m2 of space to strengthen all business aspects
Our production site is growing with the addition of a new 3,018 m2 industrial building and an outdoor area of 4,000 m2. This significant expansion more than doubles our company’s total surface area, going from 6,000 to 14,000 m2. A substantial part of this new area will be devoted to the installation of machinery to increase production of tablecloths in rolls, folded tablecloths and place mats. The remaining space will be reserved for our warehouse, which will expand its capacity to offer a more functional storage service for our customers.
This strategic investment will allow optimal reorganization of the company’s premises, improving the efficiency of incoming and outgoing workflows. This will enable us to meet high production volumes in shorter times, with faster deliveries, above all in periods of peak demand, due to increased storage capacity.
This carefully planned investment is a response to the constant increase in production and in our customer base, which ensures further opportunities to develop and consolidate our presence on the 19 markets in which we operate, demonstrating our commitment to guaranteeing the highest level of quality and service at all times. This expansion is a step towards the future. Our promise remains the same: quality, innovation and reliability.
Our disposable tablecloths stand out for their Made in Italy style and quality, but paper is the raw material that makes the difference
We have been producing disposable table linen for over twenty years. We started with paper tablecloths in rolls and, over time, we have diversified our product range. Not only by adding other formats, such as folded tablecloths, place mats and table runners, but also by using different materials, such as airlaid. Today, our private label disposable table linen is present in many countries throughout the world and is known for its Made in Italy style and quality. However, paper is still the raw material that makes us stand out, because it is not just any paper.
COLORED PAPER
We are one of the few manufacturers of disposable table linen that uses colored paper, which is produced adding colored pigments to the pulp during the production process in the paper mill. This process ensures that our tablecloths have a bright, strong and even color and makes them stronger than those made of printed paper. Our colored paper is available in a range of 25 colors, as well as in brown paper, suitable for contact with all foods. The paper of our tablecloths can be given a damask finish to achieve greater luster or embossed, with their raised pattern making them more elegant and pleasing to the touch.
PAPER WITH GREATER WATER RESISTANCE
The quality of paper tablecloths is also measured by their water absorptiveness. Paper with a low Cobb value, which measures the amount of water absorbed through direct contact, is more resistant to water when wet. The Cobb value in paper normally varies from 30 to 35, while the colored paper we use for our private label disposable table linen has a Cobb value of 22. In substance, even if the tablecloths get wet during use, they will not easily tear. This is a very important factor, which ensures the quality of the product both for those who use our tablecloths in the hospitality sector and for those in the retail sector who resell them with their own brand.
SUSTAINABLE AND CERTIFIED PAPER
Our ISO 9001:2015 Quality System, material certifications and efficient traceability system are a guarantee of safety for our customers. Our disposable table linen can be FSC® (FSC-C139999) certified. It can also be produced in recycled paper coming from selected pulping mills. Our white and colored paper tablecloths, produced without the addition of plastic and other materials, are completely recyclable. Moreover, we use compostable and water based inks with a low environmental impact for the printed table linen. The OK Compost Industrial (EN 13432) and Seedling certifications guarantee that our products made with certified raw materials are compostable and can be disposed of in the household organic waste collection to be recycled in an industrial composting facility.
The new photovoltaic system increases our company’s energy efficiency and represents another step towards sustainability
Our company’s new photovoltaic system, installed thanks to the initiative of the Lombardy Region, which funded part of the operations to increase energy efficiency of local micro and small craft enterprises in the manufacturing sector, is now ready for use. The funding was granted following the increase in energy costs to facilitate recovery from the Covid 19 economic crisis. In our case, the funds were used to sustain costs strictly related to improving the energy efficiency of our production plant, with the installation of photovoltaic panels that use the sun’s rays to produce energy. We also replaced the traditional lighting in our production plant with low energy LED devices, an operation known as relamping.
To obtain a photovoltaic system with a final capacity of 322 kWp, we have installed 805 solar panels, each producing 400 Wp, covering the whole of the roof of the building. These will allow us to produce around 250,000 kW per year, reducing Co2 emissions into the atmosphere by around 135,000 kg. Thanks to relamping, we have replaced 147 old generation light bulbs with a consumption of 20,208 W with the same number of LED bulbs with a consumption of 9,359 W, allowing an energy saving of over 50% per year.
These are two important steps in our company’s journey towards ever greater sustainability for the production of disposable table linen, a journey that started many years ago and that includes actions such as careful selection of raw materials, careful choice of the supply chain and adopting solutions to offer recyclable and compostable products. International certifications bear witness to our concrete commitment to quality and to reducing the environmental impact of our disposable table linen.
Let’s find out what Cobb value is and its importance in measuring the quality of disposable paper tablecloths.
Disposable tablecloths offer many advantages both in the catering industry and in the home, which means they sell very well through specialized channels, distributors and the retail sector. Our customers appreciate the colored paper, the range of colors, the design and the quality of our Made in Italy products, with the possibility of choosing from tablecloths in rolls, folded tablecloths and place mats. However, few purchasers know that the quality of paper tablecloths is also measured by their water absorptiveness. To assess this factor, the Cobb test is used. Let’s find out what it is and its value.
The Cobb value provides information on the water absorptiveness of paper and cardboard, meaning the amount of water absorbed through direct contact for a given time, in standardized conditions. This is expressed with the symbol (Cobb) and with the number corresponding to the time in seconds used in the test. Therefore, it represents the mass of water absorbed, expressed in grams per square meter. So, how do we assess the Cobb value when purchasing disposable paper table linen? We should look for products with a low Cobb value, indicating a hydrophobic paper. This means that it is difficult for water to pass through the paper making it more tear resistant when wet.
The Cobb value in paper normally varies from 30 to 35, while the colored paper we use for our private label disposable table linen has a Cobb value of 22. This value certifies the quality of our products in terms of resistance to water, which translates into greater durability and higher performance. In substance, even if tablecloths and place mats get wet during use, as the paper has reduced water absorption capacity they will not easily tear. This is a very important factor, which ensures the quality of the product both for those who use our tablecloths in the hospitality sector and for those in the retail sector who resell them with their own brand.
The European Directive on circular economy obliges Member States to regulate packaging labelling, but each State has different rules
The European Directive 2018/852 of 30 May 2018 on circular economy establishes that 65% of solid urban waste produced in Europe must be recycled by 2035. The Directive contains challenging objectives for the 28 Member States, to be reached through providing incentives for each recovery operation alternative to landfill disposal. Even more ambitious objectives concern packaging, with an overall recycling target of 70% by 2030 and sub-objectives for each supply chain, such as 85% recycling for paper and cardboard packaging. To this end, environmental labelling has been introduced for packaging, which we, as manufacturers of disposable table linen, have already adopted.
To reach these ambitious objectives, it is important to indicate the nature of the materials used for packaging, in order to facilitate collection, reuse and recovery, including recycling. The aim is of course to minimize the environmental impact of packaging and of the resulting waste. However, the matter is complex, as to date only some European States have transposed the European Directive, and the national laws in force are not based on uniform practices and standards. In Italy, on 1 January 2023 the eco-label became mandatory: the material used and how to dispose of it in the separate waste collection must be indicated on all packaging intended for the consumer. In France, as from 9 March 2023 it will be mandatory to affix the Triman logo on packaging and on some consumer goods.
In practice, each European State has its own rules, and therefore we have prepared to ensure compliance with the regulations in all markets to which we export our disposable table linen. We are able to provide our customers with precise information both through our in-house staff, who have attended special training courses, and with the aid of external consultants specialized in these matters. Consequently, we offer an actual consultancy service on the correct labelling of our products.
Viva Magenta 18-1750 is the color of the year 2023: an unconventional red that encourages us to experiment with new forms of self-expression, on the Metaverse and with Artificial Intelligence
Just as every year since 2020, the Pantone Color Institute has announced the Pantone Color of the Year 2023. It is Viva Magenta, an elegant and vibrant shade of red, between crimson and carmine. A deep and powerful color, which transmits a new signal of strength and, with its exuberance, celebrates a new joyous and optimistic narrative. Viva Magenta is an unconventional shade that goes beyond the passionate energy of classic red to represent the desire for experimentation and self-expression without restraints. A new color for everyone, according to the Pantone Color Institute, which has already become protagonist of the Metaverse and invites experimentation with Artificial Intelligence, while on social networks the hashtag #magentaverse goes viral. An electrifying and audacious shade, particularly suitable for all those rebellious spirits looking for a new way to express their love of life.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute says “In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known. Rooted in the primordial, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta reconnects us to original matter. Invoking the forces of nature, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta galvanizes our spirit, helping us to build our inner strength.”
Created by the Pantone Color Institute with the collaboration of experts from various fields and specializations, the Color of the Year influences the style trends of many sectors, from design to furnishing, from fashion to manufacturing. Our disposable table linen is also available in shades of Viva Magenta, in solid colors or combined with other shades from the Color of the Year 2023 palette.
