With
demand for paper expected to double by 2010 and the attendant impact on
the world's forests, the search is beginning for alternative sources of
paper pulp.
Today, many of the world's biologically rich forests are disappearing
at an alarming rate. Each year an era of tropical forest is lost. A
major cause is the expansion of industrial tree plantations, which
supply pulp to meet worldwide demand for paper products.
To decrease the extent of deforestation, tree free paper are made.
Tree-Free
Paper is manufactured without the use of tree fibre. It is made from
vegetable fibres obtained from quickly renewed annual crops such as
hemp, flax, cereal straw, corn or other vegetables. It is also made from
agricultural residues and cotton rags. Tree-free paper is one of the
most environmentally-friendly paper products of our time.
The benefits of using non-wood sources extend beyond saving trees and
forest habitat. The production process is itself more environmentally
sound, requiring fewer chemicals and less energy. With growing
restrictions on timber harvesting, and increasing concerns to preserve
forests and reduce pollution from virgin wood pulp production, tree-free
papers are gaining increased attention.
