Sustainable Paper Production

It is undeniable that paper and paper products are beneficial to our lifestyle, but our demand for paper and the unacceptable large ecological footprint of current paper production, means we need to take more action to change to more sustainable paper use and production systems.  We can reduce our demand for paper and paper products.  We can reuse our paper as many times as we can.  We can ensure that what paper we use is recycled.  We can support alternative paper production ie non tree-based paper production.

Paper products are the single biggest component of solid waste disposal sites, and as such represent a considerable environmental and social problem.  Paper recycling can reduce the amount of paper to find its way to waste disposal.  Recycling reduces the environmental and social costs of original paper production, but is not without its own costs such as increased use of fossil fuels in transporting the material for recycling, and costs in the reprocessing itself. 

The environmental and social costs of tree-based paper production will force us to look more to other sources.  It is sobering to think that two out of every five trees are cut for pulp.  The current pulp paper production releases large amounts of dangerous pollutants, such as chlorine, dioxin and furans into the air and water. 

Non-tree paper will become more and more popular for personal stationary and other uses as the impact of tree-based paper production is understood and felt.  We have relied on herbaceous plants for paper production for thousands of years.  There are hundreds of annuals and herbaceous perennials that can be used for paper stock, either alone or in combination with others.  If our paper needs could be satisfied by these sources, it would lower energy consumption, save forests, reduce toxic waste, decentralize paper production, and provide additional crop choices for farmers.  Already, there is a considerable amount of paper made from rice straw, jute or hemp, especially in developing countries.   There are currently more than 300 mills in at least 45 countries that are producing non-tree based paper.

Perennial herbaceous plants have several advantages over annual plants for paper production.  There is less cultivation needed.  Cultivation requires tractors, implements and fuel.  Herbaceous perennials tend to build soil rather than degrade it.

Any country that has a primary production industry has sources of non-tree paper material.  Agricultural waste from wheat, rice, cotton, bananas, sugarcane and cotton production are all suitable paper-pulp options.  The clothing industry also can contribute considerable amounts of cotton waste.  Crop wastes can provide the paper industry with its raw products without having to convert new land to production.  Abaca, sisal, kenaf, and hemp fibres are commonly used in the speciality paper industry. 

Roo poo paper proves popular

ABC News Online, Thursday April 21 2005

Creative Paper Tasmania's roo poo paper has generated unprecedented interest ahead of its official launch next month.

Papermaker Joanna Gair says they have taken more than 50 bulk orders and 150 individual orders for the paper, which is made from kangaroo dung.

She says it has captured the imagination of people locally, interstate and internationally.

"It's just so funny, as well as it being, the eco-message, which we try to get across as well, there's a real giggle factor," she said.

"It's made out of poo, but also it's so Aussie."

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