The world consumes more than 400 million tonnes of paper yearly, contributing to both deforestation and climate change, and our demand is only growing.
Fortunately, there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives made from fast-growing, sustainable materials. In this article, we’ll discuss about some eco-papers you can purchase to make your home or workplace environmentally friendly.
What are eco-papers?
Eco-papers are made from sustainably harvested materials. These can include lumber from sustainably managed trees, fast-growing crops like hemp, or agricultural byproducts like wheat straw and sugarcane fibre. Production is typically low-energy and uses chemicals at the minimum, making it more energy efficient with little environmental impact.
Eco-friendly Vs. recycled paper
Both eco-friendly and recycled paper are sustainable options that can help reduce waste and conserve resources. But there are key differences between the two.
Resources
Eco-friendly papers are typically made from sustainable materials such as hemp, bamboo fibre, or wheat straw. Recycled papers, as the name implies, are made from post-consumer paper waste processed into a reusable pulp.
Quality
Recycled paper is typically high-quality and equivalent to virgin paper in most applications. Eco-friendly paper is generally produced according to specific standards and is usually comparable in quality to virgin paper.
Cost and availability
Eco-friendly paper is becoming widely available but may be more expensive than conventional paper or recycled paper. Recycled paper is more commonplace and cheaper because it uses pre-used materials.
Environmental impact
Both eco-friendly and recycled paper have a low environmental impact. Eco-friendly paper is typically made from agricultural byproducts, thereby minimising waste and the number of trees cut down.
Recycled paper, on the other hand, is made from post-consumer paper waste, ensuring that old materials are refitted into the cycle and fewer trees are harvested.
Types of eco-friendly paper materials
Here are some materials that are used to make eco-papers:
Hemp
Hemp is easily one of the best alternatives to wood pulp. It is a regenerative crop that can be used to restore soil fertility to an area and matures in as little as 90 days (compared to a tree, which may take 7 to 35 years). It also requires fewer chemicals, water, and energy to be converted into pulp and is extremely sturdy as a fibre. This makes hemp paper not only sustainable but also highly durable.
Recycled cotton
Ninety-two million tons of textile waste are dumped into landfills annually, equivalent to a rubbish truck full of clothes dumping its contents on a landfill site every second, and the fast-fashion industry is only increasing this amount. Fortunately, cotton waste fabrics can be converted into cotton paper, simultaneously reducing the amount of textiles entering our landfills and lowering deforestation rates.
Bamboo fibre
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can grow almost everywhere and even regenerate itself from its shoot when its stalk is cut. As such, it can be grown on previously cleared or degraded land and harvested to make sustainable paper.
Wheat Straw
Wheat straw is a byproduct of wheat harvesting that is normally burned to make way for the new crop. However, this can be eliminated by reclaiming the straw and converting it into paper, reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the process. Transforming straw into pulp does not require pressurisation like wood, reducing the amount of energy and water needed to produce the final product.
Seeds
Seed paper is a unique type of zero-waste eco-paper. It is made from recycled paper or cotton waste and embedded with wildflower, herb, or vegetable seeds. After you have used the paper, you can plant it in your garden or a flowerpot and watch as the seeds germinate and grow into new plants.
Sugarcane fibre
Sugarcane fibre paper is made from bagasse, an agricultural waste byproduct leftover after the sugarcane has been extracted for its juice. Normally burned after the harvesting process, bagasse can be reclaimed and transformed into chlorine- and acid-free paper, reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the process.
Benefits of eco-friendly paper
Here are some advantages of using eco-friendly paper over traditional ones:
- Waste reduction: Eco-friendly paper is made from agricultural byproducts such as wheat straw or sugarcane fibre, reducing the amount of waste that is dumped or burned as well as avoiding the need to cut down trees for pulp wood.
- Energy savings: It is typically more efficient to manufacture than traditional paper and requires fewer chemical treatments, making its production far more energy-efficient.
- Increased efficiency: Materials such as hemp and wheat straw require fewer processing steps to turn into paper, leading to increased efficiency.
What are some common eco-friendly paper products?
Here are some eco-friendly paper products that are available for you to purchase:
- Eco-friendly paper towels: Bamboo paper towels are a sustainable and eco-friendly option. They are soft yet durable, perfect for various cleaning tasks in the kitchen and home. Once you’re done, you can then compost it for your garden.
- Eco-friendly wrapping paper: Traditional wrapping paper often contains plastic coatings, glitter, and metallic inks that make it non-recyclable and contribute to pollution and waste. By contrast, eco-friendly wrapping paper is made from sustainable materials and uses vegetable-based inks to minimise pollution and wastage.
- Eco-friendly paper plates: Eco-friendly paper plates made from wheat straw or bamboo fibre offer more sustainable alternatives to traditional paper plates as they do not contain plastics or chemicals that make them non-biodegradable.
- Eco-friendly paper cups: Most disposable paper cups contain plastic linings that make them non-biodegradable. Fortunately, we now have alternatives made from sugarcane fibre and other sustainable materials that are just as durable and heatproof while being 100% compostable.
- Eco-friendly printing paper: Hemp, wheat straw, or bamboo fibre papers are as durable as conventional paper, making them suitable for printing. The best put is that once you’re done with them, you can then compost the paper.
- Eco-friendly kraft paper: Kraft paper is made from unbleached wood pulp, making it 100% biodegradable. It is also highly durable and tear-resistant, making it extremely versatile.
- Eco-friendly food wrapping paper: This paper offers all the convenience of plastic wrapping without the environmental problems. The inside only has a mild PE layer, adding grease resistance without compromising its biodegradability.
- Eco-friendly paper lanterns: Eco-friendly paper sky lanterns made from 100% biodegradable, flame-retardant rice paper and bamboo string are a more environmentally friendly alternative to balloons at your next celebration.
Where to buy eco-friendly paper?
Eco-friendly paper can be purchased from speciality stores offering sustainable products or online retailers like Amazon. Your local stationery or office supply stores may also carry recycled or eco-friendly paper options.
Conclusion
With our growing demand for paper, there is also a growing need to conserve our forests and reduce wastage. Fortunately, eco-friendly papers made from sustainable plant materials offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional paper.
These eco-papers use byproducts from agriculture or fast fashion to create a product as durable and versatile as traditional paper while also being 100% biodegradable. They’re the perfect option for a zero-waste office!
