What Do Light, Classic, and Star Actually Mean? A Buyer’s Guide to Choosing the Right Baking Paper

Understanding Primabake® Grades: GSM, Performance, Reusability, and Application Fit

When choosing baking paper, one question comes back regularly from converters, distributors, and brand owners:

What is the real difference between Light, Classic, and Star?

At first glance, the answer may seem simple: the heavier the paper, the stronger the performance. But in baking paper, performance is not determined by weight alone.

At Papeteries du Léman (PDL), each Primabake® grade has been engineered to deliver specific performance levels, combining paper expertise, coating technology, and application-focused development.

Thanks to PDL’s decades of expertise in lightweight specialty papers, Primabake® has developed proprietary technologies that optimize paper structure and resource use while maintaining outstanding baking performance. This means lighter papers can achieve performance levels traditionally associated with heavier grades — helping reduce material consumption without compromising release, strength, or reliability.

This guide explains what Primabake® Light, Classic, and Star actually mean and how to choose the right grade for your application.

Primabake® Grades at a Glance

Grade	Basic Weight (GSM)	Number of Uses	Best For	Key Performance
Primabake® Light	33–41 gsm	Single-use	Household rolls, hot food packaging, everyday baking applications	Good release and anti-grease performance
Primabake® Classic	33–57 gsm	Multi-use	Professional baking, industrial applications, household rolls	Superior release and versatility
Primabake® Star	33–57 gsm	Multi-use	Professional markets, demanding applications, pretzel production	Excellent release, heat resistance, and pretzel approval

What Does GSM Mean in Baking Paper?

GSM (grams per square meter) measures the weight of the paper.

In many industries, a higher GSM is often associated with:

• Increased thickness

• Higher mechanical strength

• Greater resistance during handling

• Longer durability

  
  

However, in high-performance baking papers, GSM alone does not define quality.

A heavier paper is not automatically a better paper.

The real performance comes from the combination of:

• Fiber selection

• Paper formation expertise

• Coating technology

• Release properties

• Heat resistance

• Application-specific engineering

  
  

This is where PDL’s expertise makes a difference.

By mastering lightweight paper production and developing proprietary technologies, PDL can create lower-basis-weight baking papers that optimize raw material use while maintaining the performance expected from heavier papers.

The result: less material, optimized resources, and reliable baking performance.

Primabake® Light: Efficient Performance for Single-Use Applications

GSM Range: 33–41 gsm

Primabake® Light was developed for applications where efficiency, flexibility, and reliable performance are essential.

Designed as a single-use baking paper, it combines good release properties with anti-grease performance while using an optimized paper structure.

Typical Applications

• Household baking rolls

• Hot food packaging

• Everyday baking applications

• Single-bake products

  
  

Key Benefits

• Lightweight and efficient

• Good release performance

• Easy converting properties

• Optimized material consumption

• Suitable for single-use applications

  
  

Primabake® Light demonstrates how expertise in lightweight papers can deliver a practical alternative without sacrificing essential baking performance.

A lighter paper does not mean a compromise — it means smarter engineering.

Primabake® Classic: The Versatile Multi-Use Solution

GSM Range: 33–57 gsm

Primabake® Classic is designed for customers looking for a balance between versatility, durability, and performance.

Its multi-use capability makes it suitable for both professional and household applications where repeated baking cycles are required.

Typical Applications

• Professional bakeries

• Industrial baking

• Household rolls

• Multi-bake applications

  
  

Key Benefits

• Superior release properties

• Multi-use performance

• Reliable resistance during baking cycles

• Strong balance between efficiency and durability

  
  

Classic proves that paper performance is not simply about adding weight.

Through advanced paper manufacturing expertise, Primabake® Classic can achieve strong release and durability characteristics while optimizing the amount of raw material required.

Primabake® Star: Maximum Performance for Demanding Baking Conditions

GSM Range: 33–57 gsm

Primabake® Star has been developed for the most demanding baking environments—particularly products that naturally become stickier during baking. Primabake® Star represents the highest-performance grade within the Primabake® range.

Designed for demanding professional and industrial applications, Star combines excellent release properties with high heat resistance and durability. 

High concentrations of salt, sugar, or both can significantly increase the risk of food adhering to the baking paper. In these applications, consistent release performance becomes essential for maintaining product quality and production efficiency.

This is where Primabake® Star excels.

Thanks to PDL's proprietary paper technologies and advanced silicone coating expertise,

Star delivers exceptional release performance even under challenging baking conditions, while optimizing material use.

Typical Applications

• Pretzels (bretzels) and other lye-treated bakery products

• Meringues

• Sponge cakes

• Macarons

• Caramelized pastries

• High-sugar biscuits and cookies

• Industrial bakery production requiring repeated use

Why Choose Star?

• Exceptional non-stick performance

• Designed for products with high sugar or salt content and all other needs

• Excellent resistance during repeated baking cycles

• Reliable release for delicate or sticky bakery products

• Pretzel approved

• Multi-use capability

• High heat resistance

For manufacturers producing sticky bakery products, Star helps reduce product breakage, paper waste, and production interruptions while delivering consistently clean release.

For applications where production efficiency and consistency are critical, Star provides the performance level required.

Does Higher GSM Mean Better Baking Paper?

Not necessarily.

A higher GSM can provide additional strength, but baking paper performance depends on the complete product design.

At PDL, expertise in lightweight paper manufacturing allows us to challenge the traditional idea that heavier always means better.

Through optimized structures and proprietary technologies, PDL develops baking papers that:

• Reduce resource consumption

• Maintain excellent release performance

• Optimize material usage

• Deliver consistent baking results

The objective is not simply to make paper heavier — it is to engineer the right paper for the right application.

How to Select the Right Primabake® Grade

Before selecting a baking paper grade, consider:

Application type

Is the paper used once or repeatedly?

Production requirements

Does the process involve high temperatures, moisture, grease, or challenging products?

Performance expectations

Is release performance the main priority, or is additional durability required?

Sustainability objectives

Can material use be optimized while maintaining performance?

With Light, Classic, and Star, Primabake® offers a complete range designed to match different baking needs.

Why Salt and Sugar Matter?

When selecting baking paper, many buyers focus on GSM. In reality, the type of food being baked is often a more important consideration.

Products containing large amounts of salt or sugar create particularly demanding baking conditions.

Salt-rich products- The importance of Pretzel Approved

Pretzels (bretzels) are dipped in an alkaline lye solution before baking. Combined with coarse salt toppings, this creates one of the industry's toughest release challenges.

Sugar-rich products

As sugar caramelizes during baking, it naturally becomes tacky. Delicate baked goods such as:

• meringues

• sponge cakes

• macarons

• caramel pastries

• sugar cookies

can adhere strongly to conventional baking papers if the release coating is not designed for these demanding conditions.

Primabake® Star has been specifically engineered for these high-stickiness applications, combining advanced silicone release technology with a paper structure developed to withstand repeated industrial baking cycles.

Single-Use vs Multi-Use Baking Paper: Which One Should You Choose?

The right grade depends on how the paper will be used.

Choose Primabake® Light when:

• The application is single-use

• Material efficiency is a priority

• The product requires reliable release for one baking cycle

Choose Primabake® Classic when:

• Multiple baking cycles are required

• A versatile solution is needed

• Durability and efficiency must be balanced

Choose Primabake® Star when:

• Performance demands are higher

• Pretzel approval (high salt and/or surgar content) is required

• Production reliability is critical

  
  

The number of possible baking cycles will always depend on factors such as:

• Product type

• Temperature

• Baking duration

• Fat content

• Production conditions

The Primabake® Difference: Performance Designed Through Expertise

Choosing baking paper is not only choosing a GSM.

It is choosing the technology, expertise, and manufacturing approach behind it.

With decades of experience in specialty papers, PDL continues to develop baking solutions that combine:

• Reliable baking performance

• Optimized resource use

• Sustainability-focused innovation

• Consistent quality

From Light to Star, every Primabake® grade is designed to help converters, brands, and bakers achieve the right balance between performance and efficiency.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact:

Alizée Degorce

Email: alizee.degorce@avere.pro 

Phone: +33 698961146

For more information, visit primabake.com

About Papeteries du Léman: Papeteries du Léman (PDL) is a leading specialty paper manufacturer, known for its high-quality, eco-conscious products such as Primabake baking paper. With a century of papermaking expertise, PDL is committed to driving sustainable innovation and crafting reliable solutions for professionals in the culinary and packaging industries. Learn more at primabake.com.