In the Loop

What’s the Future for Alternative Fibers?

The following is an excerpt from a blog post by Senior Program Manager Tom Pollock on GreenBlue's blog, In the Loop. Read all recent posts.

Paper—at least in a historical context—really didn’t have much to do with trees and forests until as recently as 1843. We’re quick to connect paper and forests, but for the 2,000-odd years proceeding 1843, paper was derived almost exclusively from recycled textiles such as hemp, linen, and cotton. What might be even more surprising is that in the time since papermaking from wood fiber was introduced back in 1843, only a small percentage of paper today is derived from fibers other than wood. And, 85% of that amount consists mostly of non-wood papers made in China. Is it because it took that long to figure out that wood is the best and most preferable source of fiber for papermaking? Probably not. Read More

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