Water resistant and repulpable compositions

A printable paper, comprising:

• a cellulose-based substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface,
• a printable barrier coating on the first surface of the cellulose-based substrate, the printable barrier coating derived from an aqueous-based polymer comprising an acrylic homopolymer, an acrylic copolymer, a polyester acrylic copolymer, a vinyl acrylic copolymer, a wax emulsion, or a combination thereof, wherein the printable barrier coating has been surface treated with a high energy discharge;
• and
• a backside coating on the second surface of the cellulose-based substrate that is different than the printable barrier coating comprising a film-forming polymer,
• wherein the printable paper has a 2-minute Cobb Sizing value of less than 20 g/m2, and
• wherein the first surface has a surface energy of greater than 37 dynes/cm.