From Waste to Wonder: How Recycled Paper Products Support Our Planet
Recycled paper is far more than the eco-friendly choice we make at the store. Though we recognize the recycling symbol on our paper products, few of us understand the process it goes through to be used again. In this article, we'll pull back the curtain on recycled paper, go over what it really is, how it’s made, and why people make the effort to produce it over purchasing virgin paper. What we think of as 'just recycled paper' is, in fact, one of our most powerful tools in the fight for sustainability.
What is Recycled Paper?
Most simply, recycled paper is taking paper that has been used and reprocessing it to be usable again. It is done in an effort to reduce waste and conserve the Earth’s natural resources. While it’s of course difficult to combat the giants of the industry that contribute more heavily to the pollution of the world, this sustainable practice is highly encouraged as the production of virgin paper is generally harmful to the environment. To produce one ton of paper, nearly 20 trees have to be cut down. Not only does this decrease the Earth’s biodiversity, it's also a loss of habitat for the animals such as birds, squirrels, and more. Producing paper also requires a lot of energy and water, which can contribute to pollution and climate change.
How Do You Make Recycled Paper?
The process of creating recycling paper involves collecting used paper, sorting it, shredding it, turning it into pulp, and converting it into new paper. An assortment of materials can be recycled to make the pulp that becomes new paper – discarded paper, scrap paper, even paper items like junk mail. Whatever can be collected is sorted according to grade and quality. Some paper sources require more energy to shred or chemicals to remove impurities from until it can be turned into pulp paper. Though once the paper slurry has gone through a series of steps to be cleaned, they can be spread onto drying screens to be dehydrated and turned into new sheets of paper. This is usually done using specialized machinery from the paper mill.
Is Recycled Paper Environmentally-Friendly?
While recycled paper is better for the environment by miles, not all recycled paper is environmentally-friendly. As mentioned in an earlier paragraph, paper products gathered for recycling need to be sorted for its grade and quality. This step determines how much chemicals must be used to clean the paper scraps of its impurities, ridding it of any ink or contaminants. While the result is paper at less cost and resources, the use of chemicals is still involved to break down these impurities, meaning it’s not entirely non-toxic.
For an option that’s both environmentally-friendly and natural, consider eco-friendly paper products made from elephant dung instead – that’s where POOPOOPAPER™ comes in. Our eco-friendly business uses alternative fibers found in animal waste and seasonal agricultural waste to create earth-friendly recycled paper. We use what would otherwise be discarded and ignored, and turn it into something useful and beautiful. Our paper-making process involves no chemicals, making our sustainable paper products entirely natural and non-toxic. Not to mention tree-free! Since we upcycle animal waste, we don’t cut trees down for wood-pulp or use chemicals used to break down its composition. Our handmade paper process pays homage to traditional paper-making practices, of which you can read about in detail here.
Why Choose POOPOOPAPER?
Each sheet of our unique tree-free paper is crafted with care, allowing us to operate on a closed-loop process that helps reduce deforestation and minimize environmental impact. Since we don’t use chlorine or bleach to rid our paper pulp of impurities, the water from our production process is not contaminated and can be safely reused for subsequent production runs or to irrigate nearby agricultural crops.
Our handmade paper products are also colored using natural soy-based inks that are non-toxic and can even be used as edible food coloring, ensuring safety and cleanliness through and through. All waste papers and trimmings that are left over from our product assembly process are also re-pulped and used to make further batches of POOPOOPAPER™. Our earth-friendly business embraces this innovation and waste-to-wonder approach wholeheartedly, making what small effort we can to contribute to a greener future while providing fair wages and opportunities to skilled artisans in the local community of Chiang Mai, Thailand.
When you choose POOPOOPAPER™ for your paper needs, you're not just purchasing eco-friendly paper products that would make for a fun sustainable gift; you're supporting a humble movement that empowers talented local craftspeople and an effort to protect our planet. One handmade paper sheet at a time, we do our part to share a better alternative in a longstanding industry.