At the Iberpapel factory, the manufacturing of each product display involves several precise production processes. Among those details, there’s one that often surprises both employees and visitors: the curious “white confetti” created when trimming the beveled edges of a specific type of rolling paper known as cut corners.
An unexpected snowfall that doesn’t come from the sky, but from our machines.
What is the “confetti” from cut corners?
During rolling paper production, many brands incorporate diagonally cut corners in their booklets. This design makes rolling easier and improves the user experience. But to achieve that precise bevel, small sections of paper must be trimmed. These clippings, seemingly insignificant, aren’t discarded—they’re collected in specific containers, falling to the bottom like light snow.
This peculiar image has a technical explanation: rolling paper typically has an average weight of 14 g/m²—though there are thinner and thicker varieties. This low weight means it’s extremely light, and when cut, the trimmings briefly float in the air before settling, mimicking the behavior of a snowflake.
From Alcoy to the stage: when paper becomes a performance
What began as a hallway anecdote ended up transcending our walls. Some Iberpapel employees started requesting this “white confetti” to toss during the Moros y Cristianos of Alcoy, throwing it from balconies in the historic center as part of the festive atmosphere. Its soft fall and lightness made it a safe, biodegradable, and visually stunning alternative to traditional confetti.
Thanks to this local custom, an unexpected opportunity arose. When we learned that a theater company needed to simulate snowfall on stage, we offered this paper as a scenic solution. This sparked a collaboration with the company performing The Mousetrap, Agatha Christie’s famous play.
The images accompanying this article were taken during a performance at the Teatre Talia in Valencia, but Iberpapel paper has traveled much farther: it’s been part of dozens of stage productions across Spain. Its lightness, natural fall, and beveled cut made it the perfect solution to create that magical moment on stage.
From byproduct to creative resource
For us, it’s truly rewarding to see how even the smallest details of the production process can have a second life. Whether at local festivities, theatrical performances, or as artistic inspiration, our experience over the years has taught us that quality isn’t measured only by the final product, but also by the opportunities that arise along the way.
The reuse of this material reflects not only our commitment to sustainability, but also to creativity. Instead of discarding it, we transform it into a useful, aesthetic, and surprising resource.
A paper that continues to surprise
We’ve been producing rolling paper for decades at our facilities in Benimarfull, in the interior of Alicante. Over the years, we’ve developed a clear vision of this business: to innovate without losing sight of our environment, our industrial roots, and our community. Today, that vision is also reflected in small gestures like this one, connecting our activity with art, tradition, and culture.
Because sometimes, even the smallest piece of paper has a great story to tell.
