Cultural paper refers to paper used for writing and printing to disseminate cultural knowledge. Based on application, paper products can be categorized into cultural paper, packaging paper, household paper, and specialty paper.
Cultural paper primarily comprises three categories: uncoated printing and writing paper, coated printing paper, and newsprint. Uncoated printing and writing paper includes offset printing paper and writing paper; coated printing paper consists mainly of art paper (coated paper); and newsprint is used for newspapers and periodicals. Offset printing paper (commonly known as "double-offset paper") is a major type of cultural paper, widely used in books, textbooks, and magazines. Cultural paper requires high standards of smoothness, whiteness, and gloss, and must comply with environmental regulations such as the "Technical Requirements for Environmental Labeling Products-Cultural Paper" (HJ 410-2017). Its production involves steps such as raw material preparation, pulping, stock preparation, papermaking, and finishing. As the industry has developed alongside industrialization, market concentration has increased, and some large paper manufacturers have adopted an "integrated forestry-pulp-paper" business model. In 2025, the Shanghai Futures Exchange launched the world's first financial derivatives for cultural paper: offset printing paper futures and options.
Paper is one of my country's Four Great Inventions; historically, paper used for ancient texts was classified into three types based on raw materials: hemp-based, bast-fiber-based (bark-based), and bamboo-based paper. Amidst increasingly stringent environmental policies, the modern cultural paper industry is evolving toward green, low-carbon, and circular development.