Paper. It’s everywhere you look: an integral part of our culture. Despite predictions of a society going paperless, we can’t live without it. Whether it’s packaging in the store, supermarket products, library books, or documents in the mail, our lives are surrounded by paper. Those of us who know the advantages of a physical object in hand, or the tactile joy of touching a unique surface need to be evangelists for paper.
When we search for the right paper to deliver our message, we should consider all possibilities. We have an incredible variety of paper available to us, in different types, weights, colors and finishes. Most of the papers we use are made from trees, which are a renewable resource. But the cellulose fibers that give paper its body and strength can come from a variety of alternative sources, not just trees. From an environmental standpoint, this is quite exciting. These sources come from agricultural residue, fiber crops, wild plants, and textile waste. Moreover, today we even have non-fiber papers.
Here is a brief rundown of some sustainable or tree-free papers:
RECYCLED PAPER:
Its environmental impact depends on the percentage of post-consumer waste but paper recycling has made a major impact in the reduction of the waste stream. Today’s recycled papers run and print beautifully and are appropriate for almost any use. Limited Papers carries a large selection of recycled papers. Here is a sampling of 100% recycled paper for your consideration-
Rolland Enviro (Cascade)
Environment PC 100 (Neenah)
Classic Crest Recycled (Neenah)
Strathmore Premium Smooth PC (Strathmore)
Via 100% PC (Mohawk)
PAPER FROM RAGS:
Usually marked 25%, 50% or 100% cotton. It has superior strength and durability and is archival as it does not contain the acids present in wood-pulp paper. Excellent for use in letterpress, engraving, embossing or debossing. Limited Papers carries a large selection of rag content papers-
Cranes Crest (Crane & Co.)
Fox River Select (Neenah)
Gilbert Cotton (Neenah)
Neenah Classic Cotton (Neenah)
Savoy (Reich)
Southworth (Neenah)
Strathmore Pure Cotton (Mohawk)
PAPER FROM PLANTS:
Currently, like hemp, flax, cotton, sugarcane, bagasse, esparto, wheat straw, reeds, sisal, abaca, ananas and other exotic species-
Aveo (bagasse) by Reich Paper
Banana Paper by New Leaf Paper
Banana Paper by Ecopaper
Bier Paper (beer mash) by Gmund
Cigar Paper by Ecopaper
Coffee Paper by Ecopaper
ECO-21 (40%hemp/40% flax/ 20% cotton) by EcoSource Paper
Golf Paper by Four Corners Paper Co.
Hemp Heritage by Ecopaper or Green Field Paper
Lemon Paper by Ecopaper
Mango Paper by Ecopaper
Palm Fiber Paper by New Leaf Paper
Sugar Cane (bagasse) Copy Paper by Ecopaper
TreeFrog Paper (bagasse) by Propal Paper
PAPER FROM ANIMALS:
Bison Dung Paper (Dung & Dunger)
Elephant Dung Paper (elephantdungpaper.com/products_paper.html)
Elephant Dung Paper (Mr. Ellie Poo)
Panda Poo Paper (inhabitat)
PooPooPaper (Alternative Pulp & Paper)
Reindeer Poo Paper (Exotic Paper Company)
Rhino Poo Paper (Exotic Paper Company)
‘Roo Poo (Creative Paper Tasmania)
Sheep Poo Paper (Creative Paper Wales)
PAPER FROM FABRIC:
Arch Paper (Arch Paper)
ReRag (Arch Paper)
Denim Blue Jean Paper (Paperworks)
PAPER FROM ROCK:
Who says you can’t get paper from a stone-
TerraSkin (TerraSkin)
ViaStone (ViaStone)
PAPER FROM PETROLEUM:
Yupo | Polypropylene (PP)
Polyart | Polyethylene (PE)
Mohawk Synthetic | Polyester (PET)
Xerox Nevertear | Polyester (TC)
We at Limited Papers share your passion for fine paper and invite you and your friends to join the community and share your comments. iHeartPaper!
