Türkiye-based paper and packaging sourcing, from anywhere in the world
We supply corrugated board and packaging carton, the tissue paper group, and printing and copier paper. Orders are taken on grammage, size, reel diameter and brightness values; on printed packaging the die and colour proof are approved separately. We look at Türkiye first; if the product is not available here, we source it from the world's other production centres we source it.
- Order dataGrammage, size, reel diameter and core diameter, brightness and strength values
- Documents requiredFood contact declaration, FSC option, technical data and batch analysis
- PrintingDie, colour proof and press approval are separate steps on packaging carton
- Sourcing geographyKocaeli, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş; Europe and North America for pulp and speciality papers
What do we source in the paper group?
In paper, a product name is not enough to open an order — technical values are needed. The headings below are the areas we work in; you can also write to us about a product that is not listed.
Corrugated board and cases
Single, double and triple wall cases, transit boxes, trays, dividers, e-commerce boxes.
Corrugated raw materials
Testliner, kraftliner, fluting, recycled and virgin corrugating paper reels.
Packaging carton and boxes
Coated board, chromo board, greyboard, printed product cartons, lock-bottom boxes, pharmaceutical and food cartons.
Tissue paper
Toilet tissue, kitchen towel, napkins, dispenser towels, industrial wiping rolls, facial tissue.
Printing and writing paper
Copier paper, offset paper, coated paper, bristol board, carbonless paper, envelopes.
Kraft and packaging paper
Kraft paper reels and sheets, paper bags, kraft sacks, cement sacks, resealable kraft pouches.
Food packaging paper
Greaseproof paper, baking paper, burger and bread wrap, paper cups and plates, soup containers.
Labels and print media
Self-adhesive labels, thermal labels, barcode ribbons, card swing tags, tax stamps.
Stationery and office paper
Notebooks, ring binders, folders, presentation files, notepads, till and fax rolls, archive boxes.
Pulp and recycled raw materials
Short and long fibre pulp, baled recovered paper, recycled fibre, paper pulp.
Packaging ancillaries
Stretch film, packing tape, strapping, corner protectors, bubble wrap, pallet covers.
Hygiene product raw materials
Nonwovens, absorbent cores, fluff pulp, backsheet film, elastic tape.
Which documents are required for paper and packaging?
Documentation here answers two questions: can the product be used in food contact and and where does the fibre come from? We establish which applies to your product at the request stage.
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Food contact compliance A declaration of compliance and migration testing are required for paper cups, food cartons, baking paper and packaging board; additional checks apply where recycled fibre is used.
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FSC and fibre source declaration Certification of sustainable forest sourcing; many brand buyers require it on their packaging. The recycled content percentage is also declared separately.
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Technical data and batch analysis Grammage tolerance, burst and puncture resistance, edge crush resistance, moisture content, brightness and opacity. From an accredited laboratory, matched to the batch number.
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Quality and hygiene systems ISO 9001; food packaging additionally requires BRCGS Packaging or an equivalent hygiene standard. Production hygiene is separately audited in the tissue group.
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Print approval and colour proof On printed packaging, die approval, colour proof and press proof are separate steps. The approved proof is kept as the reference and production is assessed against it.
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Origin and movement documents Certificate of origin, A.TR for the EU, EUR.1 for countries with a free trade agreement. Export and import restrictions are additionally checked for recovered paper and recycled raw materials.
Typical working terms
The table below shows customary practice in the paper group; the terms applying to each order are set out in the written quotation.
| Packaging | Reels wrapped with stretch film and end caps, stacked vertically or horizontally; sheets palletised and wrapped. Cases and boxes in pressed bales. Because paper is affected by moisture, a waterproof cover is essential. |
|---|---|
| Loading unit | Reel diameter and pallet dimensions determine container fill directly; the wrong reel diameter leaves serious empty space. The stowage plan is optimised to reel and pallet dimensions. |
| Delivery terms | EXW, FOB, CFR, CIF and, on request, DAP / DDP. Because freight is a significant part of the product price here, the comparison is made on total cost to the destination port. |
| Samples | Grammage and colour samples for paper; die approval, colour proof and press proof each approved separately for printed packaging. The approved proof is kept as the reference. |
| Lead time | Short for standard sizes and grammages; longer for special sizes, special grammages or printed production. Die preparation and press proofing are the two items that drive the lead time, and each is stated separately in the quotation. |
| Quality control | Grammage, size, moisture content, strength values and print quality are checked before loading, and reel edge damage is inspected separately. Inspection by an independent company on request. |
Where do we source paper from?
Two large items make up the price of paper: fibre and freight. We choose the source by calculating both together — cheap paper is not cheap once it has come a long way.
Production and converting capacity
Türkiye has strong production and converting capacity in corrugated board, tissue and packaging carton. Kocaeli, İzmir and Kahramanmaraş are the centres of that production.
What this means in practice is being able to buy both raw material in reels and finished boxes — whichever you need.
Orders open on technical data
"I want boxes" is not enough to open a paper order. Grammage, size, flute type, reel and core diameter and strength values are all needed.
If you do not have these figures we derive them from a sample. The wrong grammage means an unusable batch — which is why we put the technical data in writing at the outset.
Container fill
Freight is a significant part of the price in this group. Reel diameter and pallet dimensions directly determine how full the container will be.
The wrong reel diameter leaves serious empty space and raises the cost of every kilo carried. We work out the stowage plan at order stage.
Sourcing from outside Türkiye
Northern Europe and North America are strong in pulp and virgin long fibre, Europe in speciality coated and technical papers. For these items we use our global supplier network .
Whatever the source, the order still opens on technical data: grammage, size, reel diameter, strength. And we still work out the stowage plan.
Most common questions in paper sourcing
What technical information do we need to provide to order?
For paper and reels: grammage, size or reel width, reel and core diameter, brightness and strength values. For corrugated: flute type, box dimensions, liner and fluting grammages, strength value.
If you do not know these figures it is not a problem — send a sample and we will derive them. But they must be in writing before the order opens; the wrong grammage means an unusable batch.
Can we have printed packaging produced?
You can. We work with printed cases, product cartons, kraft sacks and labels.
There are three separate approvals: the cutting die, the colour proof and the press proof. The approved proof is kept as the reference and production is assessed against it. Who pays for the die and who keeps it is written into the contract.
Why does reel diameter matter so much?
Because it directly determines container fill. The wrong reel diameter leaves serious empty space, and since freight is a significant part of the price here, that goes straight onto the cost.
The second reason is machine compatibility: the reel and core diameter must be within what your machine can take. We put both in writing at order stage.
Do you supply food contact packaging?
We do. Paper cups, food cartons, baking paper, burger wrap and food packaging board are all in scope.
A declaration of compliance and migration testing are required for these products. Additional checks apply to packaging using recycled fibre; we work out what each product needs based on the destination country.
How do we choose between recycled and virgin paper?
By the application. Recycled fibre is more economical and sufficient for most transit packaging; virgin long fibre gives higher strength and a cleaner surface.
The virgin content rises for cases carrying heavy goods, packaging that will stand in damp conditions, or cartons needing high print quality. We show the price and performance difference between the two in the quotation.
Can you supply FSC certified paper?
We can. If you are selling to brand buyers it is usually a requirement; state it in your request and we restrict supplier selection to facilities with FSC chain of custody. We do not issue the certificate; accredited bodies do.
If you are selling to brand buyers it is usually a requirement. The recycled content percentage can also be declared separately; if you intend to make a claim on the packaging, we verify the scope of that declaration.
What do you do about moisture in shipping, given paper is sensitive to it?
When paper and board take up moisture their grammage and strength change; this is the most common form of damage in this group.
We use end caps and stretch protection on reels and waterproof covers on pallets. On long sea voyages we have desiccant bags added to control humidity inside the container. We send you the loading photographs.
Will you source a paper product that is not available in Türkiye?
We do. Clef Trade is based in Türkiye, but sourcing is not limited to Türkiye; for pulp, virgin long fibre and speciality coated papers we obtain them from Northern Europe, North America and the Far East through our global supplier network.
The process stays the same: supplier research, sampling and technical data approval, inspection, certification and shipping run from a single point. Because a change of origin materially affects freight in this group, we show the comparison on total cost to the destination port.
Tell us the product you need and leave the research to us.
For requests with the details below we respond Within 24 hours with a price range and an estimated lead time.
- Only three required fieldsProduct, company and e-mail. Leave the rest blank if you are not sure — we will ask.
- Quotes are freeWe charge nothing for price research.
- Your details stay privateYour request goes only to the sourcing team.