The Beermat Blog

It is perhaps appropriate, that when Bath & North East Somerset Council wanted to launch a campaign highlighting the need to recycle, that they should include beermats as one part of their media campaign. This is because, apart from the obvious benefit of full-colour, litho-printed beermat being able to deliver a message with impact, beermats also 100% recyclable. Clearly demonstrating that Bath & North East Somerset Council practice what they preach.

The council used buses to deliver their message, as well as posters and beermats which were distributed to local businesses. Funding for this initiative was been granted by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) established to promote resource efficiency.

A not-for-profit company, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Apart from being 100% recyclable, it is also worth noting that genuine beermats are produced from wood-pulp. The pulp is typically constructed from a mix of recycled paper pulp (about 85%) and Scandinavian indigenous softwood. The softwood is typically purchased from forests that adhere to the sustainable forestry programme, where more trees are planted, than felled.

Genuine pulp-wood beermats can be designed, manufactured and printed by UK based beermat manufacturers such as Thirstys.co.uk Limited, an established beermat company based in the Midlands.

Firstly it is important to point out that the producers of fake beermats would argue that they are not fake, because they look and feel like a beermat. But of course that is where the similarities end, beermats that have been constructed and glued together simply do not have the inherent and relevant properties required of a genuine beermat which is made from pulp-wood.

Therefore, it is probably only fair that the facts are laid bare, in order that the consumers can make their own decision. Because not all constructed beermats will be put together in the same way, we must take a look at a typical constructed beermat, however, the frailties of this type of construction is likely to be similar no matter what.

Constructed Beermats

With constructed beermats, the artwork is printed onto standard paper stock on a normal paper print press, the finished paper is then glued on the top and bottom of some board (the constituents of the board will vary from supplier to supplier) and allowed to dry. These are then sold on as beermats.

Genuine Beermats

Because genuine beermats are constructed from pulp-wood, it is important; first of all, to point out what the board is made up from, given it is this process that adds value and practicality to the finished product.

Beermat board is produced from wood-pulp. The pulp is normally constructed from a mix of already recycled paper pulp (about 85%) and Scandinavian indigenous softwood. The softwood is typically purchased from forests that adhere to the sustainable forestry program where more trees are planted than are felled. This pulp is light brown in colour and unsuitable for printing purposes so a final sheet of chlorine-free bleached paper tops the bulk.

Once the pulp-wood board has been purchased, this will be litho-printed on a specialist print press that is capable of printing thicker board. Using a method dubbed work and turn, the board will be printed first on one side and then on the other. Once printed, the board will be left to dry to avoid scuffing. It will then be cut to size to produce the finished beermat.

How do they compare?

At a glance, both products will look similar, but when they are put to the acid test, this is where the differences will become more apparent.

When placed under a glass, the pulp-wood beermat will use its unique properties to soak up the droplets and the beermat will remain both presentable and useable. In fact, pulp-wood beermats are renowned for their durability in use, hence the reason they have been around for so long and are in such demand in pubs and clubs around the world.

Once again, the make up of the constructed beermat will vary, but the end results are likely to be similar. Because paper does not have the same absorbency properties of pulp-wood, in this experiment, the droplets will typically sit on top of the printed paper, taking some time to soak in. During this process it is likely that the print will streak and the paper may even come away from the board. In all likelihood, this will be a one use mat given, because the mat will look unsightly.

If you are looking for a durable beermat, then it would be sensible to ask for samples from the suppliers of constructed beermats and the manufacturers of pulp-wood beermats, then you can complete your own experiment.

Why would anyone buy a constructed beermat rather than a genuine pulp-wood beermat?

The answer is a relatively simple one, even if the reasoning is no longer as relevant today, as it was in the past.

Manufacturers of beermats print on a specialist pulp-wood board, which is a much thicker and has properties that are uniquely beneficial to the consumers of traditional use beermats. Whereas, paper that is going to be glued to board can be printed on virtually any paper stock and is often printed alongside other print jobs, this means that it costs considerably less to produce the print matter. In addition, because the beermat is constructed, there is no need for the printer to invest in a press capable of running a thicker board.

The net result was that the manufacturers of genuine pulp-wood beermats had to have high volume print runs to make the whole process financially viable and in order that they could sell the beermats at a price that was palatable to the end users.

Therefore, as a direct consequence of the two different print processes, in the past, it has been impracticable for the manufacturers of genuine pulp-wood beermats to produce short runs. However, this has changed as some of the more forward thinking beermat manufacturers have invested in ways of being able to produce much shorter runs, without the price premium normally associated with such orders. In fact, one UK beermat manufacturer, Thirstys, recently announced that they could supply just 25 litho-printed beermats, in full colour, on genuine pulp-wood board for less than £50!

Now that genuine pulp-wood beermats can be ordered for short runs, at a fraction of the price that would have been commanded in the past, arguably the future of the constructed beermat is in question. Why would anyone want to order an inferior product, from a practical use perspective, when a genuine pulp-wood beermat could be ordered for a similar or lower price?

Notwithstanding the above, no self-respecting landlord would accept a constructed beermat in place of a genuine pulp-wood beermat; they want their beermats to protect the bars, to prevent their patrons from having droplets fall on their clothes and to stop their bars and tables from getting wet! So, if you are planning to distribute beermats to the pubs and clubs in your area, it is probably sensible to give your local manufacturer of genuine pulp-wood beermats a call first.