FutureMark "Green Clean" Technology Creates Brighter Recycled Paper with Fewer Chemicals

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FutureMark Paper Co., Alsip, Ill., USA, a producer of 100% recycled coated paper for magazines and catalogs, has introduced two new products made with its "Green Clean" process that reportedly provides "world-class" brightness ratings for high-recycled paper while significantly reducing the use of several harsh chemicals traditionally used in paper production.

FutureMark’s Green Clean technology provides highly efficient, more effective extraction of embedded inks from wastepaper, allowing the company to reduce its use of deinking chemicals, such as caustic soda and peroxide, by a projected 30%. The technology also allows the company to increase the overall percentage of post-consumer waste (PCW) used in most of its recycled publication papers. FutureMark coated publication papers currently average more than 90% total recycled content and 30% PCW—the highest in North American.

By combining Green Clean technology with modifications to the company’s manufacturing process and product formulation, FutureMark has achieved an 85 brightness rating for its two new products, Future Choice® 85 Matte publication paper and Future ReMark® 85 label paper.

"Creativity, not chemicals, drove this quality boost," said President and CEO Steve Silver. "We’re proud to have attained this exceptional level of brightness in our recycled papers without resorting to harmful chlorine bleach or other harsh chemicals. We’re constantly looking for new ideas and technologies to enhance our products and operations. It’s this commitment to innovation that enables us to produce the highest-quality recycled paper in North America without compromising on environmental performance or cost."