Before you cost a cooling pad business, you need to understand the raw materials. There are only three, but their quality decides whether your pads last one season or five years.
What raw materials are needed to make cooling pads?
- Kraft cellulose paper — the base sheet. This is the body of the pad.
- Water-resistant resin — soaked into the paper so it survives years of being wet.
- Adhesive / glue — bonds the corrugated layers at their flute angles.
What kraft paper specification should you use?
Pad quality starts with the paper. Look for:
- GSM: commonly 80–120 GSM cellulose kraft (higher GSM = stronger, heavier pad).
- Absorbency: high wicking so water spreads evenly across the surface.
- Purity: virgin cellulose rather than mixed recycled stock, for consistent strength.
The paper is fed through a resin machine, which coats and cures it before corrugation.
Rough material cost per pad
Material cost depends on pad size and paper price, but a useful starting split is:
| Component | Share of material cost |
|---|---|
| Kraft paper | 60–70% |
| Resin | 20–25% |
| Glue + consumables | 8–12% |
Because paper dominates, even a small price change per tonne moves your margin. Buy in bulk and lock supplier rates where you can. For the full money picture, read our cost breakdown and ROI guide.
Where do you source it?
Kraft cellulose paper and cooling-pad resin are available from Indian paper mills and chemical suppliers. When you order a line from us we share a vetted starting material list so you can run from day one. Ask for the raw material list.