How Is Tree-Free Paper Greener?

When trees are cut down and used for the creation of paper products, they can take as long as 30 years to grow. But we’re slowly learning that quality paper can be produced without cutting down trees.

There are now over 45 countries around the globe in which tree-free paper is being made, but what are the advantages of tree free paper? And what materials can be harnessed to help protect natural trees?

What are the Most Popular Tree-Free Paper Products?

There are a number of products that can be used to produce high quality paper materials without having a significant impact on forests and woodlands across the globe. The following are examples of natural materials now used to produce tree-free paper:

• Sugar cane

Recycled sugar cane waste fiber, otherwise known as bagasse, has become a popular tree-free paper product. Bagasse is the sugar cane residue left after sugar and sugar cane residue have been extracted from the plant.

• Bamboo

Paper produced from bamboo is becoming one of the more popular products on the tree-free paper marketplace. Companies are experiencing excellent yields using bamboo because the grass produces 4-to-5 times the fiber of the fastest growing commercial tree species.

• Cotton

Cotton paper products are manufactured from cotton liner’s and are designed to have superior strength and durability to wood-based paper products.

The Environmental Benefits of Going Tree-Free

So now that we know the main tree-free paper products, what are the leading benefits of choosing these products over their tree-based alternatives?

• Tree-free paper helps preserve forest areas

Without the need to cut down large amounts of trees for paper products, companies can preserve the natural ecosystems around the globe. These additional trees can help absorb some of the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, therefore further improving our air quality over time.

• Use of sustainable plants helps reduce manufacturing costs

  The use of sustainable plant products such as bamboo and sugar cane for the creation of paper also helps minimize manufacturing costs. Instead of requiring 30-year growth periods like trees, these plants are available within a two-year growth cycle. This helps improve the production capacity of paper companies and ensures environmental sustainability.

• The cost of production can be lower

In addition to the efficiency and environmental advantages offered by tree-free paper, the cost of producing large quantities of the product is lower than with tree-based products. That’s because there are fewer steps in the production process and, when paper companies are not using a finite resource such as trees, they can plan their production to ensure cost-efficiency in a range of areas.

The preservation of our natural environment is a leading objective within the global business marketplace, and the use of tree-free paper is a large step towards our environmental preservation objectives.

Consider your paper use habits and the impact you can have on the global environment by going tree-free! It’s a commitment that millions will be making for the future.