A deep commitment to sustainability

At La Compagnie du Kraft, eco-responsibility is more than just a word — it’s a mastered industrial practice. The kraft manufacturing process is designed as a closed loop: all materials and chemicals used are recovered, recycled, or reintegrated into the system. Waste is never wasted — it becomes a source of energy. This closed-loop approach isn’t just environmentally sound; it also makes solid economic sense.

Every stage of the production cycle adds value to the materials involved — cellulose fibers, additives, treatments — to minimize waste and maximize efficiency. Energy recovery and reduced consumption remain top priorities. Thanks to this circular approach and a high-performance recovery boiler, the fully integrated Mimizan plant is nearly self-sufficient in steam and produces almost 50% of its own electricity.

Paper protects the forest

Contrary to popular belief, paper does not destroy forests — it helps sustain them. In France, forests cover nearly 15 million hectares — about a quarter of the country’s land area — and are expanding by approximately 50,000 hectares each year. This growth is directly linked to the economic value derived from wood by-products through the paper industry.

This model provides forest managers — known as sylviculturists — with the resources needed to maintain, replant, and sustainably enrich forest land. France’s forests are home to over 130 different tree species, and the paper industry relies on sustainable varieties such as pine, fir, birch, and eucalyptus. As for tropical forests — often wrongly associated with paper production — they are not part of the virtuous model we support, as their fibers are not suitable for papermaking.

Sustainable raw material management in Gascogne

La Compagnie du Kraft uses a 100% renewable natural fiber sourced from responsibly managed forests. To produce unbleached virgin fiber pulp and paper, the Mimizan plant works exclusively with by-products from maritime pine grown in the Landes de Gascogne: branches, treetops, thinning wood, sawmill scraps, and offcuts.

These raw materials are not waste — they are upcycled resources. Thinning, for instance, is essential to the health of cultivated forests: it removes weaker young trees to give stronger ones more space to grow, thereby promoting the long-term vitality of the forest.

Natural, GMO-free technical innovations

Our notebooks are cherished not only for their aesthetic appeal, but also for their functionality. To create a pleasant writing surface that aligns with our values, Gascogne Paper and our manufacturing team have developed a natural starch-based coating process that seals the paper on its matte side (your favorite), without using GMOs.

The result? A sensual kraft paper with rich, subtle tones — as smooth to write on as classic white paper, yet firmly rooted in an authentic, eco-friendly approach. This kraft paper isn’t just packaging material — it’s a refined, unique, and sustainable writing medium.

Preserving craftsmanship through resilience

The story of Nicolas Recoing, an entrepreneur with a unique vision, perfectly illustrates our philosophy: protecting a rare typographic craft. When he revived the activity of an old printing house in Poissy, it was with the belief that these often-forgotten techniques still hold deep value.

Craftsmanship like this can’t be bought online or measured by speed — it requires time. Precise gestures, attention to detail, and a real presence in the workshop. At La Compagnie du Kraft, we honor these skills by integrating them into our creative process, inviting our customers to appreciate their worth, and giving each product a longevity that transcends trends. A true sustainable investment — meant to be kept and passed on.