Frischfaser

Frischfaser is a term used in the pulp and paper industry to denote virgin fibers—cellulose fibers derived from wood or other lignocellulosic sources that have not previously been used to manufacture paper. The term contrasts with Sekundärfaser (recycled fiber). Virgin fibers are typically produced by chemical pulping (for example the Kraft process) or by mechanical pulping, and may be bleached to improve brightness. The properties of Frischfaser, such as fiber length, strength, and drainage characteristics, often yield higher-quality paper with better formation, printing behavior, and brightness, making it suitable for premium printing papers, high-grade packaging boards, and specialty products.

The share of Frischfaser in a furnish influences properties like stiffness, tear resistance, and opacity, as well as processing behavior on paper machines. However, virgin fiber production generally has a higher environmental impact than recycling, since it involves forestry operations and energy- and chemical-intensive pulping. Consequently, mills balance the furnish with recycled fibers to optimize environmental performance while meeting product specifications. Sustainable sourcing from certified forests (for example FSC, PEFC) is common practice.

In practice, the term Frischfaser is used in furnish planning to specify the proportion of virgin fiber relative to recovered pulp to achieve targeted quality and efficiency.