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The days of the papyrus from the days of King Tut has gone through some evolutions in manufacturing since then, and so has our use of it. Even in the modern digital age where there seem to be more computers than there are people using them, our hunger for paper is as strong as ever. From newsprint to Post-It notes, we fill our bins full of the used stuff weekly!
So, the age old question is "where does it come from" (besides the obvious) and why the extra coverage?
We won't get too far involved in the manufacturing process but we will outline a quick guide. The reason we're making a big deal about it is primarily due to its sheer abundance. We see paper in such quantity and so often that our minds are generally tuned out of its nature and therefore we take it for granted. We are introducing this topic to re-introduce ourselves with the very nature of paper and how we use it.
Manufacturing:
As we suspect, it starts with trees, but it can also start with other plant materials such as cotton, wheat straw, sugar cane waste, flax, bamboo, linen rags, and hemp. But 95% of the time, trees are the ones being used as they consist of about 50% cellulose (a key ingredient in paper fiber).
Wood pulp is then created by separating the needed cellulose from the other 50% of the tree (lignin and other materials). This is done in either of the two ways: Mechanically (grinding which can convert 90% or more of the wood into pulp) or chemically (uses chemicals, heat and pressure for separation). The mechanical process is very efficient but produces low to medium quality paper (packaging, newsprint, etc). Chemical processes are more extensive but create stronger fibers for wider applications.
For bright-white paper, the pulp must be bleached and chemically separated pulp is easiest as it's more pure. The bleaching generally involves such chemicals as chlorine, sodium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide. Recycled paper is generally off-white in color as the pulp is a mix of previous-processes and inks and is difficult to bleach.
The actual process to make paper is the same as it has been for centuries. Pulp (slurry in the old days) is put in a sieve and removing the water produces paper. Current manufacturing is more refined in that the pulp are diluted in water and sprayed onto extremely wide mats. It is then dried with heat-rollers, vacuums, and / or infrared dryers.
After the right thickness & moisture content is achieved, color may be added, and then rolled and cut down to size as required - followed by shipping to the many distributors to the office-supply stores we buy it from.
This whole process of making paper moves at a pace of about 45 miles per hour (literally). This speed requires energy - electricity, water, natural gas, and all the associated chemicals (which also took resources to make). In 1998, the total energy consumption of U.S. pulp and paper mills was estimated at 2.75 quadrillion Btu (the equivalent of about 470 million barrels of petroleum); much of that is self-generated through incineration of wastes.
So, how much tree is in the paper we use?
Conservatree estimates tells us the following:
What about recycling?
Because paper contains the same fibers as the original plants, these fibers can be re-used to make new paper and starts again with pulping. Mechanical and chemical treatments take out colors, inks, and coatings and recover as much fiber as possible form the original process. This does damage the original fibers and hence the amount of times you can recycle paper (3 to 5 times average). Estimates have shown that even with the processes to reclaim these natural fibers, it is about 40% more efficient than if produced from virgin content (the original pulping mechanics have already taken place).
Recycling paper, regardless of its benefits, requires a two-step process by the public to function. 1 - is to recycle (it has to come from somewhere), and 2 - to buy recycled (if we don't buy it, why should they make it?). Like with most market-driven items, demand reduces costs and improves availability. The fact that we recycle the paper we would ordinarily throw away, we could give the manufacturers a free starting point. That's a zero-overhead with process-reduction from the onset versus harvesting virgin trees! Paper Retreiver pays you, charity, or school for your paper! A lot of work went into it so there is value in it! Depending on your recycling needs, you may also opt to take it to a recycling center near you.
Here are some large-scale questions to consider: If recycling paper (among other things) makes so much sense, how come it's not automatic and we have to search out recycled content? If our waste-paper is so valuable, how come it's not automatically taken to a recycling plant to be remanufactured? Basically, why do we have to think about this stuff?
From Honolulu to Virginia, parts of the United States already have mandatory recycling programs - the reason most don't is because land is relatively cheap compared to recycling. It's faster, easier, and cheaper to throw it away and bury it. Unfortunately, we have to add a "for now" at the end of that sentence because that cannot last. Landfills are filling up faster as our consumption and waste increase and as we all know, there is a price for everything. There is a threshold when it will become as cost effective (or even cheaper) to recycle as it is to bury it. What and when is that threshold? Our willingness to participate in the process is the only determinant. Local governments can institute requirements to the dismay of some, but our pro-active willingness is the only way it can become an intuitive process. It becomes a level of acceptance that it makes perfect sense - versus the ease of inactivity. And like always, market will follow demand - we just have to ask for it!
For reference and more information, refer to the following:
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