Steinbeis Papier

What Steinbeis Papier does

Steinbeis Papier GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of 100% recycled graphic papers headquartered in Glückstadt, Schleswig-Holstein. Founded in 1976 around the pioneering decision to abandon virgin wood fiber, the company operates one of Europe's most modern paper factories, producing over 300,000 tonnes of printing, copying, offset, digital, and label papers annually. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of family-owned Steinbeis Holding GmbH and serves B2B printing and publishing companies, corporate and office buyers, government ministries and public administrations, and the beverage, food, and non-food label industries across Germany and selected European export markets.

The company's production technology is built around a proprietary Deinking process that removes printing ink from waste paper using only air and soap, complemented by closed-loop Elbe-sourced water cycles, a fully biological wastewater treatment plant, and a combined heat and power plant with 87% efficiency fueled by substitute fuels. Following the 2024 full integration of the Papenburg biomass power plant, the group's electricity self-sufficiency exceeds 100% and all thermal energy is self-generated; the Glückstadt facility was fully digitized in 2020. The company has invested more than EUR 440 million in recent years and reports a 73% reduction in CO2 emissions since 1990, with Blue Angel and EU Ecolabel certifications across the entire product range and a stated 2040 climate-neutrality target.

The revenue model is primarily B2B product sales (printing, copying, offset, digital, and label papers) at approximately EUR 233 million annual revenue with a 43% export quota. Distribution combines direct e-commerce (shop.stp.de, rethinking-paper.de), direct B2B quote and inquiry channels, and trade/distribution partners serving the printing industry. A distinctive "Circular Economy - Back-to-Use" service collects waste paper from ministries, public administrations, and enterprises and re-manufactures it into new paper for those same customers, closing the material loop and embedding the company in customer procurement workflows. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with standard payment terms of 30 days net or 14 days with a 3% cash discount.

Name

Steinbeis Papier

Legal name

Steinbeis Papier GmbH

Website

https://stp.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Steinbeis Papier GmbH is a German manufacturer of 100% recycled graphic papers (printing, copying, offset, digital, and label) based in Glückstadt. It serves B2B printing, corporate, government, and label industries across Europe through direct, online, and distribution channels, anchored by a closed-loop "Back-to-Use" circular service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recycled Graphic Papers

NAICS

Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills (3221), Paper Manufacturing (322), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Paper Mills (2621), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycled Printing & Writing Paper (IMAMAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycled Specialty Paper (Filter, Release, Construction, Technical) (IMAMAKAK), Recycled Paper Converting & Finishing (Cut/Size, Coating, Laminating) (IMAMAKAL), Recovered Paper Collection & Sorting (OCC, ONP, Mixed Paper) (IMAMAKAA), Recycled Pulp Manufacturing (IMAMAKAC)

Keywords

• Recycled graphic papers
• Office printing paper
• Offset paper manufacturing
• Label paper production
• Circular economy paper

Headquarters

HQ city

Glückstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Recycled Graphic Paper Sales: Steinbeis Papier manufactures and sells a range of recycled graphic papers (printing, copying, offset, digital printing, and label papers) made from 100% waste paper. Products are sold directly to customers via an online shop and through trade/distribution partners to the printing industry, trade, and end-user businesses. Revenue is generated through product sales with pricing based on paper type, weight, and format.
2. Circular Economy - Back-to-Use Service: A service where Steinbeis Papier collects waste paper directly from companies, ministries, and administrations, then re-manufactures new paper from it for those same customers. This closes the material loop and ensures raw material supply, generating revenue from the paper products manufactured in the same cycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Steinbeis Papier manufactures and sells 100% recycled graphic papers from waste paper — printing/copying papers, offset papers, digital printing papers, and label papers — for the printing, publishing, office, labeling, beverage/food, and public sectors. The company complements its manufacturing with a circular 'Back-to-Use' service that collects customers' waste paper and re-manufactures it into new paper for them.

Product overview

Steinbeis Papier is a manufacturer of 100% recycled paper products operating from one of Europe's most modern paper factories in Glückstadt, Germany. The product portfolio consists of four main product categories: (1) Printing and Copying Papers (Steinbeis No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, Color, Script), (2) Offset Papers (Steinbeis Silk, Brilliant, Select, Nature), (3) Digital Printing Papers (Steinbeis Digital Laser and Inkjet), and (4) Label Papers (Steinbeis Label Wet and Label Dry). All products are made from 100% recovered paper without using wood as a raw material, certified with the Blue Angel and EU Ecolabel, and produced using sustainable manufacturing processes with closed-loop water and energy cycles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ReThinkingPaper: Brand name for the company's online shop for recycled paper products
• Steinbeis Digital
• Steinbeis Label
• Steinbeis Silk
• Steinbeis Brilliant
• Steinbeis Select
• Steinbeis Nature

Products and services

• Steinbeis No. 1 Multi-functional 100% recycled printing and copying paper for office use.
• Steinbeis No. 2 100% recycled printing and copying paper for standard office applications.
• Steinbeis No. 3 100% recycled printing and copying paper for standard office applications.
• Steinbeis No. 4 100% recycled printing and copying paper for standard office applications.
• Steinbeis Color Colored 100% recycled printing and copying paper for color-coded office documents.
• Steinbeis Script Specialty 100% recycled paper designed for handwriting applications.
• Steinbeis Silk Silk-matte coated 100% recycled offset paper meeting RAL UZ 195 environmental standards, suitable for web and sheet offset printing.
• Steinbeis Brilliant Glossy coated 100% recycled offset paper for high-quality printing applications.
• Steinbeis Select 100% recycled offset paper for covers and text pages, available in 80–150 g/m².
• Steinbeis Nature Uncoated 100% recycled offset paper with natural surface and coloration for eco-conscious printing.
• Steinbeis Digital (Laser) 100% recycled digital printing paper developed and certified for laser printing systems (ISO 70/80/100, 80 g/m² roll format).
• Steinbeis Digital (Inkjet) 100% recycled digital printing paper developed for inkjet printing, combining ecology and economy.
• Steinbeis Label Wet Moisture- and alkali-resistant 100% recycled label paper for reusable and single-use containers in beverage, food, and non-food industries (70/80 g/m²).
• Steinbeis Label Dry 100% recycled label paper for standard labels on single-use cans, glass jars, and bottles using wet glue, hot glue, and self-adhesive application; printable in offset, rotogravure, and flexography.
• Circular Economy – Back-to-Use Service Closed-loop service in which Steinbeis collects waste paper directly from companies, ministries and administrations and re-manufactures it into new paper for those same customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 73% energy savings compared to virgin fiber paper
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Steinbeis Holding GmbHcoreOthersSteinbeis Papier GmbH is a company of Steinbeis Holding GmbH. The holding group encompasses various companies in ecological paper production, circular economy, and environmentally friendly energy generation, including specialists in recycled papers and plastic recycling, waste paper and residue processors, modern power plants, and biogas, solar and wind parks. Steinbeis Papier is the flagship recycled paper business within the group.
• EBS Concept GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationEBS Concept GmbH (ebs-concept.com) is part of the Steinbeis Group. It operates substitute fuel (EBS) power plants that convert non-recyclable waste into energy. EBS Concept was founded as part of Steinbeis Papier's efficiency expansion, and the first partial acquisition of the Papenburg power plant in 2016 strengthened sustainable energy supply. The company specializes in fluidized bed technology and cogeneration, enabling Steinbeis Papier's energy self-sufficiency.
• Steinbeis Energie GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPart of the Steinbeis Group, Steinbeis Energie GmbH contributes to the group's renewable energy portfolio. The company is one of the entities referenced in the procurement conditions alongside Steinbeis Papier GmbH.
• Steinbeis Energie Papenburg GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe biomass power plant in Papenburg was fully integrated into the Steinbeis Group in 2024, giving Steinbeis a power self-sufficiency rate exceeding 100%. This partnership strengthens the group's sustainable energy supply and is referenced in procurement conditions alongside Steinbeis Papier GmbH.
• Charta der Vielfalt (Charter of Diversity)minorOthersSteinbeis Holding GmbH signed the 'Charta der Vielfalt' (Charter of Diversity) on behalf of all companies in the Steinbeis Group, committing to diversity, equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and inclusion in the workplace.
• GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol)coreOthersSteinbeis Papier uses the internationally recognized GHG Protocol (Greenhouse Gas Protocol) for its Corporate Carbon Footprint (CCF) accounting, which covers all Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions along the entire value chain. This provides the methodological framework for its TOWARDS ZERO climate neutrality strategy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koehler Paper: German family-owned paper manufacturer producing a broad range of graphic, specialty, and recycled papers. Most direct European competitor to Steinbeis in graphic and recycled paper grades, with comparable focus on sustainability-led product positioning.
• Heinzel Group: Austrian paper group operating Laakirchen Papier, Heinzel Pulp, and other mills producing graphic and recycled papers in Central Europe. Direct peer in uncoated graphic and recycled paper markets serving European printing and publishing customers.
• Arctic Paper: Polish-headquartered European manufacturer of uncoated and coated graphic papers for the printing industry. Direct competitor in the European graphic paper market with similar sustainability messaging and customer overlap in printing/publishing.
• Lecta: European coated paper manufacturer producing specialty and graphic papers for premium printing applications. Comparable customer base (commercial printers and publishers) and focus on high-quality coated graphic papers using recycled and virgin fiber.
• Felix Schoeller: German specialty paper manufacturer producing photographic, digital printing, and decor papers. Comparable family-owned German heritage, specialty paper focus, and overlap with Steinbeis in digital printing paper grades and high-quality specialty substrates.

Broad incumbents

• Mondi: European-headquartered paper and packaging group with significant recycled-content and graphic paper operations. Overlaps with Steinbeis in uncoated graphic papers and recycled-fiber packaging, but operates at far greater scale across multiple segments.
• UPM: Finnish forest-products giant producing graphic papers (UPM Communication Papers), recycled-fiber products, and label materials. Direct overlap with Steinbeis in graphic and label papers, though with vastly broader product portfolio.
• Stora Enso: Nordic integrated paper and biomaterials group with magazine papers, book papers, and recycled-fiber lines. Competes with Steinbeis in European graphic paper markets and has comparable sustainability positioning as a large-scale recycler.
• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging leader with a growing presence in recycled graphic and specialty papers. Overlaps with Steinbeis in recycled fiber sourcing and European customer base, though primarily focused on containerboard rather than graphic papers.
• Sappi Europe: European arm of South African paper group producing coated and uncoated graphic papers, packaging boards, and dissolving pulp. Competes with Steinbeis in coated/uncoated graphic paper segments and has launched its own recycled-content product lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/steinbeispapier
• Facebookde-de.facebook.com/SteinbeisPapier
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/steinbeis-papier
• Instagraminstagram.com/steinbeispapier
• Xx.com/SteinbeisPapier

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Steinbeis Papier