Glossary Of Terms

Alcohol-free Lithographic printing that uses no isopropyl alcohol (IPA), thereby reducing the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC).

AOX Adsorbable Organic Halogens. A measurement used in waste water testing to indicate the overall level of the halogens ? i.e. fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine. Particularly relevant to the bleaching process in paper making. The lower the AOX level the better.

Ash Content Ash content is determined by amount of mineral fillers contained in paper. A paper?s stiffness and strength is reduced by increased ash content.

Base Paper Paper at its initial stage before a coating or converting process is applied.

Basis Weight A term referring to the paper?s weight, measured in gsm.

Biofuels Fuels derived from Biomass which are burnt to generate heat and power. Examples are bio-ethanol and bio-diesel.

Biomass A renewable raw material and most often refers to organic matter such as timber and crops grown specifically to be burnt to generate heat and power. Biomass is sustainable and generally carbon neutral because the carbon released in the combustion process is offset by the carbon trapped in the organic matter by photosynthesis during its growth.

Blade Coated A paper coating technique which uses an air blade or metal blade to remove excess coating and provide a smooth finish.

Blue Angel A German environmental accreditation that adopts a ?cradle to grave? product approach ? i.e. manufacture through to use and disposal. Paper must be 100% recycled with no heavy metals or hazardous chemicals.

Brightness A measurement of a paper?s ability to reflect a specially calibrated blue light.

Bulk Also referred as caliper, this is a paper?s thickness which is quoted in microns.

Calendering A paper making process whereby paper is run between a stack of heated rollers compacting it to provide a more smooth and shiny surface.

Caliper A measurement of a paper?s thickness ? quoted in microns.

Chain of Custody The method of identifying a specific paper product at any point within the supply chain. Used by FSC and PEFC to provide assurance that the paper has originated from accredited sustainabley managed forest.

Chemical Pulp A generic term for pulp that has been made by chemically treating wood chips to remove impurities that will hinder the paper?s whiteness and strength.

CHP Combined Heat and Power. A power generating source that provides heat and electricity on site. CHP units are common in paper mills and have the benefit of lower emissions than energy that is sourced from a grid.

CO2 Carbon Dioxide. A greenhouse gas - a major contributor of climate change.

Coating A layer of minerals which is applied to the paper's surface in order to improve it's appearance and printability.

CSA Canadian Standards Association. A forest certification scheme that is now endorsed by the PEFC.

CSWO Cold Set Web Offset. A printing process specifically for uncoated reels of paper, such as newsprint and continuous stationery.

Cut-Off A measurement used in web offset printing to indicate where the web is cut to form a sheet or section.

Cut Star An in-line sheeter attached to the front of a sheet fed printing machine. Converts reels to sheets for printing - more economical than the standard sheet fed process.

Dampening Solution Also referred to as fountain solution. This is used to keep the non-image areas of a lithographic plate moist, preventing the acceptance of ink. Dampening solution usually contains high levels of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) which contributes to VOC emissions. Some solutions are available with a low IPA content or are IPA free, and waterless printing eliminates the need for dampening solution altogether.

De-Inking Both a chemical and physical process for removing printing ink, fillers and other pigments contained in recycled paper. De-inking will also improve the brightness of recycled pulp.

DIP De-inked pulp.

ECF Elemental Chlorine Free. Pulp that is bleached without the use of elemental chlorine. ECF pulps can contain up to 0.5kg of AOX per tonne of air-dried pulp.

EMAS Eco-Management and Audit Scheme. The European Union?s regulated environmental management system. Similar to ISO14001 but also requires public reporting.

EMS Environmental Management System. A practice undertaken by businesses to ensure that environmental matters are addressed through a documented system. ISO 14001 is the most recognised EMS accreditation.

EU Eco-label (The EU Flower) European Union scheme to promote ?green? products. It uses a stringent life cycle analysis to identify where a product might harm the environment through its manufacture, distribution, consumption and disposal.

Filler A pigment material such as china clay or calcium carbonate that is added in the papermaking process to improve properties such as opacity and smoothness.

Film Coat Also called wash coat. This is a thinly coated paper stock.

FSC Forest Stewardship Council. An international organisation promoting responsible forest management. FSC has developed principles for forest management and a system of verifying timber and wood products which originate from FSC-certified forests.

Gloss A measurement of the paper?s surface illumination.

Grain Direction The direction in which the paper fibres tend to lie relative to the motion of the papermaking machine. Paper is stronger when its fibres are in line with the machine direction ? long grain.

Gravure Paper Paper that is manufactured specifically for gravure printing presses it is also referred to as Rotogravure paper. Characteristically more smoother and softer than offset equivalents and is used for large volume print runs. Typical weight availability 39 ? 65gsm.

Gravure Printing Also known as Rotogravure. A rotary printing process which uses image etched printing plates to transfer ink on to paper. Paper has to be specifically mage for gravure printing. The gravure process is used for large volume print runs.

Groundwood Pulp Wood that has been broken down into pulp by a mechanical grinding process and thus retains a higher proportion of the wood raw material

GSM Grammes per Square Metre. Measurement of paper weight.

Hardwood Pulp Pulp that is obtained from deciduous trees - i.e. short fibres. Paper made from hardwood pulp provides a comparatively higher bulk and opacity.

Holdout How ink sets on a coated paper?s surface during the printing process. The lower the ink absorption, the better the holdout. Good holdout provides sharper printed images.

HSWO Heat Set Web Offset. Commonly referred to as web offset printing, whereby reels of paper, instead of sheets, are printed. This process is for large volume print runs.

Improved LWC An LWC paper with an improved brightness. Made from mechanical pulp, it is produced for both gravure or web offset printing. Common weight range is between 65 ? 80gsm. Typically used for magazines, periodicals, catalogues and large run media inserts.

Improved Newsprint A brighter and heavier version of newsprint paper. Used for newspaper supplements catalogues and media inserts. Common weight range 52 ? 60gsm.

IPA Isopropyl Alcohol. Commonly used as an industrial cleaner and solvent. Used in lithographic printing, when combined with water, to create a dampening solution which repels the ink in non-image areas. IPA contributes to ground level ozone which can effect plant and crop growth and poses a potential health hazards to those who use it.

ISO 14001 The standard published by the International Standards Organisation specifying the requirements of an environmental management system.

Landscape A publication or page which, when viewed or read, has a width that is greater than its height.

Lick Coating A light form of coating applied to both sides of the paper during its manufacture.

Lignin An inherent adhesive which binds wood fibres together in their natural form. Lignin affects pulp brightness: lignin tends to be present in mechanical pulp, whereas most of it is removed in the chemical pulp making process.

Lithographic Printing A planographic printmaking technique based on the antipathy of oil and water. The non-image areas of the printing plate are made hydrophillic and the image areas are made hydrophobic.

LWC Light Weight Coated. Made from mechanical pulp it is produced for both gravure or web offset printing it is available between 39 ? 80gsm, more commonly between 51 ? 65gsm. Typically used for magazines, periodicals, catalogues and large run media inserts.

Machine Coated Paper that has a surface coating applied ? usually on the paper machine at the end of the making process. The coating is a mixture of clay materials that is applied to paper to improve surface smoothness and ink holdout during the printing process.

Machine Finished An uncoated paper that is softly calendered to provide bulky printing paper ? e.g. book wove and improved newsprint.

Mechanical Pulp Also referred to as groundwood pulp. Pulp that has been produced mechanically and retains a higher proportion of the wood raw material.

MFC Machine Finished Coated. A bulky paper that has a light coating applied to both sides. Common weights are available between 51 - 65gsm.

Micron 1 micron = 1/1000th millimetre. The unit used to measure a paper?s thickness.

Mill Broke Refers to off-cuts and rejected paper at the manufacturing stage. Mill broke is re-pulped and used to produce of new paper. It is pre consumer waste and does not constitute as true recycled fibre for the paper production.

Mineral Oil Based Inks Also known as petroleum based inks. These are the most common inks used in printing because of their quick drying time. The pigment is suspended in petroleum with Isopropyl alcohol as the solvent. As the ink dries, alcohol and petroleum evaporate, releasing VOCs. Petroleum is a non-renewable resource.

Mobius Loop The recycling logo which consists of a triangle of three arrows. On its own it denotes ?recyclable? but with a percentage figure in the centre it denotes that the product contains a defined quantity of recycled material.

MWC Medium Weight Coated. Made from mechanical pulp and produced for both gravure and web offset printing. MWC is a brighter alternative to Improved LWC and typically available in weights between 70 - 100gsm. Predominately used for consumer magazines.

Newsprint An uncoated base paper that it is produced from mechanical pulp and recycled pulp. Used primarily for newspaper printing, it's common weights range between 42 - 48.8gsm.

Nordic Swan A Scandinavian environmental accreditation awarded for production methods that create minimum environmental impact. Paper mills have to attain specific minimum levels for emissions and effluent to comply with the Nordic Swan standard.

OBA Optical Brightening Agents. Chemicals applied to pulp in order to increase the perceived whiteness of paper fibres.

Opacity A measurement of a paper?s resistance to show-through.

PCF Process Chlorine Free. A term that is sometimes applied to the bleaching of recycled pulp. Essentially the bleaching application is TCF, but the pulp itself cannot be guaranteed to be totally free of chlorine since previous bleaching methods are unknown.

PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. A scheme for auditing forestry operations, taking into account the effects on the environment.

Perfect Bound Also referred to as Spine Glued. To fasten a magazine or periodical by gluing the text pages to the cover's spine.

Portrait A publication or page which, when viewed or read, has a height that is greater than its width.

Post Consumer Waste A product which has been used, disposed and then recycled.

Pre Consumer Waste Also referred to as post-industrial waste. The by-products of the production process. Examples are mill broke, paper off-cuts, make readies and rejected or surplus printed matter.

Printability Characteristics of paper that will ensure good quality print results.

Recycled Pulp Pulp that is made from post consumer waste which has been collected for recycling rather than being sent to landfill ? mainly magazines, newspapers and office stationery.

Saddle Stitched To fasten a magazine or periodical by stapling it through the middle of the folded sheets.

SC Super-calendered. An uncoated paper that goes through the calendaring process to provide a smoother/polished surface. SC papers are categorised in levels of brightness and range from 39gsm ? 60gsm.Produced for web offset and gravure printing, SC papers are a cheaper alternative to LWC papers. Mainly used for large scale print runs such as travel brochures and retail catalogues.

SC A An improved version of SCB paper which is made by subjecting a base paper, like newsprint, through the calendering process. Typical weight range is between 48 - 60gsm.

SC B The most basic form of SC paper which is made by subjecting standard newsprint through the calendering process. Typical weight range is between 42 - 52gsm.

SC Cat An improved version of SCA paper which is made by subjecting an improved base paper through the calendering process until a high glazed appearance is achieved. Typical weight range is between 52 - 70gsm.

SC Cat + An improved version of SC Cat paper which is made by subjecting a much brighter base paper through the calendering process until a high glazed appearance is achieved. Typical weight range is between 52 - 70gsm.

SFI Sustainable Forestry Initiative. North American forest certification scheme which is endorsed by the PEFC.

Soft Calendering A paper making process whereby paper is run between a stack of steel and hard rubber rollers to provide a more smoother finish yet with the retention of bulk.

Splice Point where two strips of paper are joined within a reel

Substance Weight of paper defined in gsm (grams per square metre).

Sulphate pulp Chemical pulp produced by using sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide.

Sulphite pulp Chemical pulp produced by using sodium, magnesium, ammonium or calcium bisulphite.

TCF Totally Chlorine Free. Pulp that is bleached without the use of any chlorine. Alternative bleaching agents such as liquid oxygen, hydrogen peroxide or sodium hydroxide are used instead. TCF pulps have AOX level of zero.

Vegetable Based Ink Made from a variety of vegetable oils including soy-bean, corn, and linseed oils. Replacing mineral oil with vegetable oil means that you can reduce or even eliminate VOC emissions.

Virgin Fibre Fibre produced for the first time from wood.

Virgin Pulp Either mechanical or chemical pulp that is made from virgin fibres.

VOC Volatile Organic Compounds. Carbon containing gases and vapors that are released from solvents used during the printing process.

Waterless Printing Lithographic printing process that eliminates the water or dampening system used in conventional printing. Instead, silicone rubber coated printing plates and special inks are used in conjunction with a temperature control on press. This process also eliminates the need for IPA.

Web A continuous sheet of paper that forms into or out of a reel.

Whiteness The paper is perceived to be white due to high clarity, elevated diffusion and minimum perception of hues.

Woodfree paper Paper made from chemical pulp fibres (although an allowance of up to 5% mechanical pulp is permissible). The term woodfree is derived from the shortened historical definition 'groundwood-free'.

WRAP Waste and Resource Action Programme. An organisation supported by the Government to reduce waste and increase recycling.