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Do you have any idea how much paper we still waste every year in the US, despite the fact that we're in the midst of this so-called digital revolution? It's a lot—it still makes up for a third (32.7 %, as of 2007) of our entire municipal waste, which is 254 million tons, according to the EPA. Half the trees felled in the US every year are used for paper, and an estimated 30-40 percent of our landfills are filled with paper waste.
But it gets worse—for every tree cut down, only half can be turned into wood pulp, the substance used to make paper. It's a horribly inefficient process, and forests worldwide are shrinking all the faster because of it. And yet, there are some intriguing alternatives to wood-based paper cropping up in that are worth keeping an eye on.
The Top 5 Kinds of Treeless Paper
Not all of these are widely available (yet), but they each offer sustainable solutions to traditional paper. Without further ado, here are the best alternatives to wood pulped paper currently being concocted:
- Elephant Poop Paper
Elephant poop always makes for a good way to kick off a list, and here it's likely the most intriguing way to get treeless paper. See, elephants have vegetarian diets, making their dung rich in cellulose—prime paper making material. They also happen to unload around 500 pounds of it every day, making the stuff plentiful and renewable. And elephant poop paper is already being marketed—you can get yours from Pixxlz or Mr. Ellie Pooh. It should be noted that panda poop paper is in the works, too. - Kenaf Paper
Kenaf is a hibiscus plant originally from Africa. It's fast growing, and an acre of kenaf can produce 11 tons of paper-friendly fiber. By way of comparison, an acre of pine trees can take up to 10 years to be harvest ready, and would produce only around half the paper product. Vision Paper is a premier seller of kenaf paper products. - Sugar Cane Paper
There are a world of reasons to opt for sugar cane paper. It's made from bagasse, which is the residue left over in the cane plant after the sugar has been extracted. So it's created from a surplus byproduct, which is good news; and so is the fact that it's 100 percent biodegradable. It's also readily available—companies like the Sugar Cane Paper Company and TreeFree Paper already supply the goods. - Bamboo Paper
Bamboo may be a rising star in the treeless paper world: as a crop, it requires extremely little water to maintain, and it has natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that make preserving it easier. While not widely available as a printer paper variety, you can get Bamboo stationary from the folks at Smock. - Hemp Paper
We all might associate hemp with a certain less-productive pastime than writing, but the crop has nonetheless turned out to be a contender for tree-free paper creation. Hemp is one of the most versatile crops, and perhaps if we could ever shake its pot smoke and reggae addled image, we'd see more products like this hemp sketchbook by Green Field Paper.
More on Tree-Free Paper:
Green at WIRED NextFest: Paper that Self-Erases After 24 Hours ...
Xerox's Reusable Paper
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