At California Green, we are constantly educating ourselves on what’s readily available in terms of new “Tree Free” papers. Here’s some information on a few we like.
With rising awareness and concern over our rapidly diminishing rain forests and natural habitats, some forward thinking companies have come up with tree-free alternatives to traditional wood pulp based papers. Among these earth friendly altenatives are Wheat paper, Cotton paper, Hemp paper and Sugar Cane paper.
Step Forward Wheat Paper
Prairie Paper’s Step Forward paper is made from 60% organic wheat waste and 40% managed forest. This smooth blue white offset sheet is manufactured from the wheat straw waste that is normally burned, so it’s good for the environment on several levels, less pollution form burning and less trees and natural habitats being destroyed. Increased use of this stock could have a huge positive impact on deforestation and natural habitat loss. One of the co founders of the company is actor and eco warrior, Woody Harrelson. Prairie Paper is working on getting the sheet to be 100% Tree Free. We’ve printed lots of jobs both digitally and offset on this stock , and it performs exceptionally on press. Step Forward paper is good for farmers and good for the planet.
“It’s always been a big concern of mine that paper comes from forests,” said Woody Harrelson, a co-founder and investor in Prairie Pulp & Paper Inc. The two-time Academy Award nominee and long-time environmental advocate who received an honorary doctorate from York University for his environmental work said, “Step Forward Paper™ is a real plus for the forest and it’s a real plus for the farmers, and it’s going to be great for our future.”
Aveo Sugar Cane Paper
Reich Paper makes a sheet called Aveo, this Tree Free Stock is made from 90% sugar cane stocks after they are crushed to extract their juice to make sugar. This sustainable and renewable resource known as Bagasse, has traditionally been burned or placed in landfills. The balance of the 10% of Aveo is a combination of linen and hemp which are both left over from the textile industry. This waste material would also normally end up end up in a landfill. Aveo is recyclable, biodegradable, acid free and chlorine free.et.
HEMP PAPERS
Hemp papers are Acid Free, Chlorine Free and Archival Quality. Hemp Papers are 25% Hemp and 75% PCW in content. Hemp paper is manufacture in the USA and is acid and chlorine free and 100% bio based. Hemp papers have a textured finish and perform decently on press, for an organic look and feel, This paper is good for an artsy type of finished product.