Recycled Paper

Other than tap water to make the paper pulp, nothing else was added to make my recycled paper that wasn’t already in it. Some of the paper I used for the journal came from my own house and the rest came from my mother’s work. The paper was just common office printer paper -- 20lb white stock paper, made with no post consumer recycled content. The ink used to print on it was not soy based and there’s good chance it was not environmentally friendly ink. The paper was made completely from trees, the trees were cut down by the a logging company, the logs were then brought to a paper mill where they were ground down, water and other additives were added to make the pulp, the pulp was then poured onto a wire mesh and brought through a suction box where water was sucked out and then rolled out into paper.

Many harmful chemicals are used in paper making, such as toxic solvents and chlorine compounds used to bleach and delignify pulp, and biocides to prevent bacterial growth in the pulp and finished paper products. Paper making uses a great deal of energy and water, and it creates a great deal of waste and air pollution. Paper made from trees contributes to the world deforestation problems.