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We are the only one producer of vegetable
parchment paper and colour paper dyed in mass in
Poland.
According
to the record in the factory's chronicle, "in
1935 a new production department was opened, namely
a machine for the production of vegetable parchment
was bought in the factory of J.M.Voith".
From 1935 the paper
factory in Jeziorna was famous - as the only one
in Poland - for the production of artificial acid
parchment. Continuing the traditions of the old
Royal Paper Factory in Jeziorna (founded in 1760)
the company is still the only one producer of vegetable
parchment in Poland.
Of course, the paper mill does not have its first
vegetable parchment machine today - at present artificial
parchment is produced on a machine bought in 1974.
The production technology of artificial parchment
has been modernized and improved, nevertheless,
the main philosophy of the technology has not changed.
The production of artificial parchment involves
the impregnation of body paper of certain parameters
by means of concentrated sulphuric acid.
Then vegetable parchment is thoroughly neutralized,
rinsed out and dried. In the course of the impregnation
of the body paper with the acid, cellulose fibres
undergo chemical and physical changes.
As a result of the impregnation a corneous surface,
similar to animal parchment, is obtained.
Hence the name of "artificial parchment"
or "vegetable parchment".
As a result of a profound change in the fibre structure
of the paper and the accompanying chemical changes
in the cellulose fibre a new paper product - vegetable
parchment - is obtained.
Thanks to the physical and chemical changes described
above, vegetable parchment acquires unique features,
not possessed by any other kind of paper. The most
important of them are greaseproofness and water
resistance, i.e. the fact that vegetable parchment
does not solve in water, even after a long period
of soaking.
Both of these qualities
make vegetable parchment a perfect packaging for:
- edible fats and other solid fats, such as butter,
lard and margarine,
- cottage cheeses (mainly due to its water resistance)
and other cheeses,
- all kinds of confectioner bakery products,
- meat and fish,
- other fat and wet food.
Apart from that vegetable
parchment can be widely used in the household. It
is perfect as a wrapping for food kept in a refrigerator.
Having been slightly greased it can be used as a
lining for baking dishes.
A significant quality of vegetable parchment is
its low air penetrability, thanks to which the wrapped
products are ventilated in a natural way. This prevents
the products from being steamed over and contributes
to a longer period of them being fresh.
Artificial parchment has a certificate of the National
Hygiene Institute allowing to use it as a package
for food.
During the confectioning process of vegetable parchment,
as a result of cutting vegetable parchment sheets
and chips into small and narrow strips of irregular
shapes, parchment wool is obtained.
Parchment wool is
a perfect material for packing due to its elasticity.
For this reason it is used for:
- packing fruits, for example apples,
- packing glass, china, Christmas tree decorations,
- packing eggs,
- in poultry hatcheries as an underlay for chickens,
- as an underlay for pets (such as guinea pigs,
hamsters, etc.)
Vegetable parchment
is an environment-friendly product undergoing biodegradation.
It is produced from natural, clean cellulose fibre,
without chemical additives.
It meets the requirements regarding the maximum
total of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium
contents, according to the Act of Packages and Package
Waste.
Vegetable parchment is a good material for printing,
both with the flexography and offset printing.
It is sold in the form of sheets, rolls and bobbins,
as well as in retail packages for households under
the name of Royal Vegetable Parchment [Pergamin
Królewski].
"OPAKOWANIE",
a science ant technique monthly, April 2003 "
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