Synthetic paper, from its early development and historical evolution, has typically been manufactured using synthetic resin derived from petroleum as its primary material.
Naturally, this has given it characteristics similar to those of plastic film, but its appearance is remarkably similar to that of regular paper made from wood pulp. In addition, many synthetic papers have properties similar to those of regular paper.
Although there is no precise definition of synthetic paper, it is generally understood to be a product manufactured using synthetic resin derived from petroleum as its primary material, which while maintaining the characteristics of the material, offers several qualities similar to that of paper made primarily from wood pulp, most typically its white and opaque appearance as well as its printing and processing capabilities.
In recent years, however, synthetic papers that surpass the above definition have emerged.
For example, products that combine regular paper and plastic film are known as synthetic paper within the printing industry, and the definition of synthetic paper has become extremely imprecise. As a result, it has become common to refer to individual product names rather than to use the catch-all term synthetic paper.