Introduction

Over the last two years, Luxe Pack Monaco has been the backdrop for two important innovations by Favini in the field of ecological papers. In 2024, the Shiro Echo range was extended with four additional colours; in 2025, Sparto was introduced, the new paper created by the union between research and sustainability.

Sparto is the new Favini paper to take its place in the Paper from Our Ecosystem collection. It is made from esparto fibre, post-consumer recycled material, and bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane processing

At the Grimaldi Forum, this paper was presented with both a sample book showcasing the variety of colours and weights and with a visual book, “Combat Desertification,” which explores its aesthetic and technical potential with print.

The concept behind the visual book

A common theme runs throughout the visual book: Desertification, one of the main global environmental problems, which the UN has been fighting since 1994.

Sparto was created from this concept: Esparto grass, which thrives in hot climates and arid terrain, plays a key role in combating desertification.

From problem to concrete solution, this is the story that takes shape in this visual book, enhanced with illustrations by Hattie Clark, Janne Livonen, and Made Up.

A look inside

The visual book consists of sixteen pages created using French Fold bookbinding technique, with a Japanese-style bound cover. The spine is covered in gauze, and it is completed with a dust jacket.

All eight Sparto colours are represented in 120 gsm, and the cover uses 350 gsm Storm, a grey with attractive inclusions.

Various print techniques were used to create the visual book: Traditional and UV litho, hot foil stamping, and screen printing.

UV litho was used to achieve greater brightness and colour coverage, for example in the first section of the visual book where the white of the moon and skull stands out against the beige colour of Sparto Desert.

The skull then underwent an additional step with a scratched effect, to give it depth and detail.

The inks used in traditional litho are semi-fresh, which guarantee a pleasant and natural finish.

The reflections of light visible on some pages are created by foiling.

Brass Dies were used for these prints, as they are more resistant and ensure excellent results.

Screen printing was used, for example, on the page in Monsoon blue.

Three passes were made to achieve this, without the paper undergoing any deformation.

As Alberto Pavan of Pavan Plast points out, Sparto paper maintained its stability and precision throughout the entire process.

Sparto paper performance

Sparto paper performed excellently during the production of the visual book. “It performed very well with all the techniques used,” explains Alberto Favero of Arti Grafiche K2. The paper showed mechanical stability and no deformation, confirming its reliability even in complex processes.

Sparto thus confirms itself as a versatile, high-performance paper, capable of combining aesthetics, sustainability, and high-level printing results, ideal for applications that require precision and quality.