Why Is Copy Paper Biodegradable?

Biodegradable copy paper is made from substances other than virgin tree pulp or from recycled paper to promote environmental friendliness. It also is designed to leave a smaller imprint on the environment as it decomposes, and is considered to be a "green" product.

Significance

• Traditionally, paper is made from wood fiber taken from trees harvested in forests then processed in pulp and paper mills. Since the pulp and paper industry uses toxic substances in the processing of paper that might be harmful to the environment and uses large amounts of energy and water, some companies have undertaken novel ways of making paper to lessen the impact of traditional paper making. The purpose of the move towards treeless or biodegradable paper is also to preserve forests worldwide.

Considerations

• There are companies manufacturing treeless paper, and this paper is composed of sugar cane bagasse (a recycled waste product from the sugar cane industry) and bamboo or some other fibrous product. These companies use no chemicals in the processing of the paper, and the materials used to make it are renewable resources. Other companies recycle already existing paper products to make new paper and use no chlorine, in this way saving trees and reducing the use of chemicals in the paper making process.

Features

• Tests done with treeless paper show that it is very good quality, jams less frequently in photo copiers and printers and holds print as good or better than traditionally processed paper. Biodegradable paper is supposed to decompose more quickly than regular wood fiber paper. Designations on environmentally safer papers include the Green Seal, the Green-E, and PCF or TCF to indicate paper that is processed chlorine free.