One of the things that makes our Tulip Bulb Paper so special is that you can actually see the tulip fibres in the paper. They're not printed on, they're genuinely part of the paper itself. That's what makes this material so unique. Since it's made from a natural product, no two sheets are exactly the same, giving every print its own distinctive character.
How It All Started
Earlier this year, Patrick Kapteijn from Groot Packaging got in touch with us to introduce a remarkable new paper: Tulip Bulb Paper. Having grown up around flower growers, Patrick had seen thousands of flowers and tulip bulbs go to waste every year. What a shame! That inspired him to find a better use for these leftover materials. Since flowers are rich in cellulose, they are an excellent raw material for one thing in particular: paper. It all started with a simple experiment at the kitchen table. Together with his wife, Patrick began making paper by hand, and that's where the very first sheet of Tulip Bulb Paper was born.
But how do you actually turn tulip bulbs into paper? To find out, we joined Patrick on a visit to Zwettulips, one of the world's largest tulip growers. Tulips are grown here all year round, which means tulip bulbs are available throughout the year as well. During our visit, we saw the entire growing process, from young shoots emerging from the soil to fully grown tulips ready to be shipped around the world.
Of course, we were most interested in what happens after the flowers have been harvested: the leftover tulip bulbs. Normally, these would be discarded or used as cattle feed. Thanks to Patrick's idea, however, these bulbs now have a completely new purpose: becoming paper. But why are tulips such a good choice for making paper?
From Waste to Paper
There are more than 800 varieties of tulips, and every single one of them grows from a bulb. The great thing is that bulbs from all of these varieties can be used to make Tulip Bulb Paper. That's because, at their core, tulip bulbs all have the same basic composition. And since tulips are grown year round, there's a continuous supply of bulbs available.
At the nursery, the tulips are harvested by cutting the flowers from the bulbs before being packaged and shipped. The bulbs that are no longer suitable for cultivation are collected and carefully sorted. While not every bulb can be used for paper production, the vast majority can. After sorting, the remaining stems are removed from the bulbs. The bulbs are then shredded, sieved and cleaned to create a fibre-rich raw material. One of the most important steps comes next: mixing the tulip fibres with paper pulp. Tulip Bulb Paper consists of 25% tulip bulb fibres and 75% recycled paper pulp. This combination provides the strength and quality needed to produce premium paper while preserving the paper's unique appearance.
The result is a paper unlike any other. By giving a waste product from the tulip industry a second life, Tulip Bulb Paper transforms agricultural leftovers into beautiful, sustainable print products with a story of their own.
White, Strong and Full of Character
Tulip bulbs may have a brown outer skin, but inside they are naturally bright white. This means no bleaching agents are needed to achieve the paper's light colour. Because it's made from a natural raw material, the shade may vary slightly from one batch to another. That's exactly what makes every sheet unique.
Tulip bulbs are also naturally rich in starch, which helps create a strong and durable paper. This makes Tulip Bulb Paper especially suitable for premium cards, offering both excellent rigidity and a clean, bright appearance. Small particles from the bulb's outer layer remain visible in the paper, creating its distinctive terrazzo-like effect. The result is a paper that is white, sturdy and full of character.
Tulip Bulb Paper is suitable for a wide range of print applications. It's perfect for greeting cards, invitations, certificates and business cards, but also works beautifully as a cover stock for books and magazines. Because of the visible natural fibres, the paper is not suitable for contour cutting or rounded corners. But it doesn't need any extra finishing to stand out. Its unique texture and appearance already make every print something special.
