Gmund Papier stands for resource-efficient paper culture with tradition: since 1829, unique natural paper has been produced at Lake Tegernsee. As true industry experts, the company honors projects made from their paper that showcase outstanding innovation, creativity, and design under the motto “Fibers at work.” This coveted award is given in seven categories. We are incredibly proud to be among the winners this year!
The special prize “Green Innovation” recognizes exceptional eco-friendly concepts that tackle the question: “How can we act sustainably with paper products?” Our innovative tea paper and its use in our Tea for Tomorrow Advent calendar impressed the jury.
The GMUND Award ceremony is accompanied by the Unfolded Festival, where the top 200 submissions are showcased. We had a stand there, allowing visitors to discover the Tea for Tomorrow calendar and experience the unique texture of our tea paper firsthand.
Shaping the future together
Our Tea for Tomorrow Advent calendar reflects our deeply rooted belief that sustainability can go hand in hand with indulgence and design. It wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible partners who supported us along the way. Working with Gmund Papier played a crucial role in our development, as Jean-Philippe Aiguier, director of sustainability at PAPER & TEA, emphasizes:
“Tea for Tomorrow includes numbers 1–24, but it’s far more than just an Advent calendar. This calendar is our statement about PAPER & TEA’s commitment to sustainability, transformed into a product. Behind this outcome lies a wealth of individual results: valuable new partnerships in tea. A custom made tea paper, developed in collaboration with renowned paper manufacturer Gmund Papier, whose openness symbolizes transparency and whom I highly recommend on a personal level. Our friendship with Original Beans. And, because a complex set also needs to be packed, the special meeting with our new partner, Augustinum Werkstätten in Munich. Tea for Tomorrow outlines new paths, connects people, brings us friends, and links this with the highest enjoyment and the joy of discovering new worlds.”
Responsibility and innovation meet creativity
Together with the Gmund Greenfibra Lab, we developed a tea paper that partially consists of leftover tea. The outer box of the Tea for Tomorrow calendar is the first opportunity for us to use it.
This is not only a sensible way to utilize tea waste but also perfectly represents what we stand for as a company. We didn’t just recycle leftover tea; we creatively transformed it into something new: a high-quality outer box with a unique texture. Yet all other aspects of the calendar also focus on sustainability:
All products come from producers who adhere to the highest ecological and ethical standards. We use recyclable paper for folding boxes and caddy labels that are Cradle to Cradle Certified® Silver, and the folding boxes and sleeves with tuck-in flaps eliminate the need for glue.
Jean-Philippe Aiguier believes that our efforts to focus on every detail and always go one step further have paid off:
“It was a special moment for me when the jury’s reasoning for the first place in the “Green Innovation” category was announced. It explicitly noted that when a company places its logo tastefully and modestly as an uncolored embossing on a box, it prioritizes unconditional reuse over brand recognition, acts boldly, and makes a strong statement for sustainability.
That was our intention, and it was understood! I find it wonderful to imagine many of our boxes as collectors for love letters, photos, and other beautiful memories in living rooms around the world.”
You can find out more about our tea paper and how it is made here.
