Can Better Paper use coatings, or is that a no-no?
• As a visual medium, it goes without saying that a magazine’s look is an important selling point. For most magazine publishers achieving the desired look means using a coated paper. However, coatings introduce a specific set of environmental concerns, particularly as they complicate the recycling process. There are different types of coatings, separated not only by composition but also by function. Clay coating is applied at high-pressure to add a glossy finish or shine to magazine paper prior to printing. This coating improves the opacity of the paper, helping to prevent any bleeding through of inks. The vast majority of magazines currently use this type of coated paper. A second coating is sometimes applied after printing to seal the inks onto the paper. When magazines are discarded for recycling, the clay and final sealant coatings act as contaminants in the recycling process and must be fully separated from the paper. Complete separation is not always easy, and failing to remove c
