 Alternatives to Killing Trees for Paper One hundred years ago, it seemed as if trees were an inexhaustible resource. Today, it has become obvious that there are only so many available and that current rates of logging are not sustainable. The natural forest is daily becoming a rarer and rarer commodity all over the world. Even when new trees are planted, the forest ecosystem of animals, plants, fungi, and insects is destroyed, replaced by a tree farm that will take many years to grow to fruition and will never be the same. Forests are more than just pretty places to visit. They are a necessary part of our global ecosystem, especially when it comes to keeping the right balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Though there is arguably a need for a certain amount of lumber for construction purposes, there is no need to destroy trees to make paper. Unfortunately, the "pulp and paper" industry is firmly in control of most paper manufacturing and distribution today. In many countries (including the United States and Canada) governments subsidize these companies because they are traditionally an important source of jobs. Even as this becomes less true due to advances in logging technology (which means the process requires fewer labourers) taxpayers are footing a large part of the bill for these unsustainable practices, which are usually based on maximizing profits in the short term because of a stock market business focus. Leaving trees behind for future generations is generally not considered a priority and company executives and investors benefit more than workers or local economies. Though jobs are important, government subsidies aimed at creating them would be better spent developing jobs in future friendly industries, such as the in the growing market for tree-free paper, which many eco-conscious consumers are now choosing even though it can be harder to find and more expensive. Here are a few of the currently available options for those who feel it's worth it: Recycled Paper Recycled paper is one of the more available tree-free paper options, and is a popular choice. However, its processing requires a number of harsh chemicals (often including chlorine) and the recycling and manufacturing facilities are often owned by the same pulp and paper companies that produce "normal" paper. Many recycled paper products have labels which advertise their "green" nature in order to appeal to consumers but are only made from a small percentage of recycled materials. Recycled paper is also often of lower quality. Hemp Hemp is an ideal material for making paper. It regenerates in the field in months (unlike trees which can take 30 years or more to become harvestable after planting) and makes a fine quality paper that is acid free and does not become yellow and brittle over time. In the United States there is a fear of hemp because of its family resemblance to marijuana, even though it was a traditional crop that can be used for many purposes including rope, oil, textiles, and food. Many blame the fact that it is illegal on the strong government influence held by the cotton and timber industries. Kenaf Kenaf is another excellent paper making fibre. In 1960, the United States Department of Agriculture chose kenaf from among 500 plants as the most promising non-wood material for making paper. It is high-yield, grows in climate zones where tobacco grows, and does not have the stigma of hemp. It also makes an excellent quality paper. Agricultural Byproducts Paper is also made from agricultural byproducts left over from the harvesting and processing of sugar cane, bananas, coffee, tobacco, lemons, and other fibres. The quality of these vary and sometimes it is necessary to mix them with tree or other fibres to make a usable paper. A benefit of these papers is that they are made from materials that would normally become waste products.
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