Nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains in the South of France sits a sprawling paper mill with a 150-year history.
The Saint-Girons Mill is the rolling paper home of SWM International‘s market brand Botani, focusing on solutions for the cannabis industry. R&D Manager Laurent Vives offers a fascinating look behind the scenes at how this historic facility creates the exceptional papers that Botani customers have come to value.
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A Legacy of Papermaking Excellence
Founded in 1872 as JOB Company, the Saint-Girons facility has evolved significantly over its century and a half of operation. A major milestone came in 1971 with the modernization of the paper making process, which would later become the cornerstone of the mill’s capabilities. In 1998, the facility was integrated into the SWM Corporation, marking another significant moment in its development.
Specializing in Ultra-Thin Papers
What truly sets Saint-Girons apart is its expertise in creating incredibly thin, lightweight, low grammage (GSM) papers, utilizing multiple natural fibers. This focus has positioned the mill uniquely in the industry, particularly as the trend continues toward ever-lighter materials.
“Year after year, our customers want to decrease the weight of the paper,” Vives notes. This forward-thinking approach has given Saint-Girons a competitive advantage.
World-Class Sustainable Hemp
The sourcing of their hemp shows Botani’s commitment to sustainability. “One hundred percent of our hemp is supplied from France,” Vives explains. This close proximity reduces the carbon footprint of transportation and supports local agriculture.
What also makes hemp particularly eco-friendly is that it “does not need any chemical to grow and any added water irrigation,” says Vives. This makes hemp “a very sustainable plant” compared to other fiber sources.
Quality Control and Clean Production
The facility’s location near the Pyrenees Mountains provides a crucial advantage: exceptionally clean water. Vives explains that the region once hosted six paper factories precisely because of this high-quality water source, adding that the reliable river level ensures consistent production even during dry periods.
Craft Meets Innovation
With 119 employees in a town of about 6,000 people, the Saint-Girons mill remains an important part of the local economy. As consumer preferences increasingly favor sustainable, plant-based materials, this historic mill continues to innovate while maintaining its core expertise in creating some of the world’s finest thin papers.