Why Elephant Poop Paper? The Surprising Sustainability Behind This Eco-Friendly Paper

While it might seem unusual at first, you'll be surprised to find out that there's gold in poo, as the waste produced by elephants can transform into a beautiful and sustainable wonder – enter POOPOOPAPER! 

The concept of elephant poop paper is truly refreshing, thanks to its surprising sustainability. Our company, POOPOOPAPER, is dedicated to crafting unique paper products from organic recycled fibers found in animal dung, offering a better and more sustainable alternative to traditional paper production. Let's explore what it is, how it's made, how it can help our planet, and the question that you’re probably dying to ask – does it smell?

The Million-Dollar Question: What is Elephant Dung?

Elephant dung is an organic waste matter which is a byproduct of the elephant’s digestive system. As it’s been studied for many years, it is found to be a great supplemental fertilizer – responsible for even building and growing an entire ecosystem. As elephant poop is further studied and considered nutrient-rich, experts have discovered more beneficial uses for it, such as biofuel, a mosquito repellant, and most recently, elephant poo paper!

What is Elephant Poop Paper?

Elephant poop paper is precisely what it sounds like – it’s basically paper crafted from the fibrous material found in elephant dung. Before you squirm or wrinkle your nose, let’s first set things straight. Elephant poo isn’t just waste. It’s mainly composed of digested plant matter–as elephants are primarily herbivores. Therefore, their waste contains a rich source of cellulose fibers, the key ingredient in traditional paper production. 

Surely, you’ll ask if it’s truly made from elephant poop. The answer is a 100% yes. POOPOOPAPER extracts those valuable fibers from the dung and through a meticulous cleaning process, we can create a sustainable and beautiful paper product. 

 

 

The Poop to Paper Transformation: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating elephant poop paper is a meticulous and fascinating process that blends traditional techniques with modern innovation. Here's a step-by-step look at how we create our unique POOPOOPAPER™ products.

 

 

Collection

We start by sourcing our precious waste from elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai, Thailand. We’ve partnered with these sanctuaries that take great care of the elephants’ well-being–providing them with spacious habitats, healthy diets, and regular veterinary care–the perfect recipe for creating those lovely poos! We ensure that the dung is collected naturally as part of their daily routine ensuring that these giant, majestic creatures are unharmed. 

Cleaning and Preparation

Once collected, the dung undergoes a thorough cleaning process to ensure hygiene and safety. We meticulously remove any non-fibrous materials like pebbles, dirt, and leaves, leaving only the valuable fibers behind. These fibers are then boiled for several hours, softening them and creating a slurry-like consistency perfect for papermaking. This boiling process also eliminates any bacteria, ensuring the final product is safe and hygienic for commercial use.

Pulping

To enhance the strength and texture of our paper, we blend the elephant dung fibers with other seasonally available, non-wood fibers. We ensure only to use seasonally abundant plant fibers from banana tree trunks, pineapple husks, and corn stalks. What we get is a beautifully rich blend of fibrous pulp that will soon be transformed into equally beautiful paper! To make our unique elephant poop paper more vibrant, we incorporate non-toxic, soy-based colorants keeping our process environmentally friendly throughout. 

Forming Sheets

To ensure that each POOPOOPAPER sheet meets our highest standards of consistency and quality, the raw materials go through the skilled hands of our local artisans. With the use of traditional screening techniques, they handcraft each sheet of paper for proper quality and thickness. Each sheet is a testament to the artistry of our papermakers.

Drying and Finishing

After ensuring that each sheet is fully formed, they are laid out to dry naturally under the tropical sun. This natural and sustainable drying process minimizes the need for fuel and electricity, lessening our environmental impact. Once dry, we apply some finishing touches—meticulously cutting, gluing, binding, and decorating each piece as it transforms into a variety of elaborate paper products, such as our eco-friendly journals, sustainable scratch pads, earth-friendly greeting cards, and more.

Eco-Friendly Benefits: Why Choose Elephant Poop Paper?

Choosing POOPOOPAPER means choosing the environment. You are assured that in every elephant poop paper you buy that it is:

• Tree-free: Yes, you read that right. Our paper is timber or tree-free! Without relying on timber, we reduce deforestation helping conserve forests while protecting endangered ecosystems and biodiversity. 
• Chemical-free: Commercially-made paper uses harsh chemicals to retain its form and durability. Sadly, it’s a trade-off that severely impacts the health not just of people but also of the environment. POOPOOPAPER uses only non-toxic, soy-based colorants, so there’s nothing to worry about!
• Championing local: Every POOPOOPAPER product is created with much thought and love by our team of local artisans based in Chiang Mai, North of Thailand. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase their talent and artistry while providing job opportunities and improving the economic well-being of the community.

 

Addressing Concerns: Is It Safe and Odorless?

Even with the many benefits of elephant poop paper, there’s still one question that comes to mind for someone to decide whether they should try this alternative paper product for once – “Does elephant poop smell?” Not to worry. We hear you and understand your concern. 

The answer is a resounding yes. POOPOOPAPER is safe and odorless. We can assure you that our extensive cleaning and boiling process eliminates bacteria and ensures that every page you turn from the elephant poop paper journal you use is safe and hygienic. It’s also completely odorless due to the thorough cleaning and processing we do so it doesn’t stink. So, you can change the “poo” into “phew!”

 

Get Your Hands on Our Elephant Poop Paper–See and Feel the Difference! 

Thinking of something extraordinary and meaningful to gift to your loved ones? POOPOOPAPER should definitely come to mind! Imagine receiving a birthday card made from elephant poo – now that’s a great conversation starter. More than just a quirky product, it’s a great way to introduce people to the concept of upcycling and responsible consumption. In a world where fast fashion and retail consumption reign supreme, it’s still good to remind ourselves to take things slow and lessen what we take away from nature. After all, what we can’t use only adds to the growing problem of waste that’s piling up on our planet. 

Whether it’s eco-friendly journals, scratchpads, or even touching greeting cards, POOPOOPAPER is a unique piece of green product that aims to make a lasting impact on our environment. Our products are a reflection of that belief that we can turn problems into possibilities. By choosing us, you take part in our long-term commitment to build a more sustainable future.