Let’s Talk Paper

What’s better than plastic? Paper! As the world finally starts to appreciate the environmental consequences of decades worth of plastic being dumped into oceans and landfills, there’s been a rise in the production of single-use paper products. Over the course of one year the world uses over 400 million tons worth of paper products – anything from napkins, paper plates, newspaper, cardboard, to cash – to be used and eventually thrown away or recycled. Compared to 400+ years it takes for a single piece of plastic to break down, paper has a much more sustainable life cycle, one that ends in anywhere from 4-6 weeks’ worth of decomposition or shipment to a recycling plant.

Although industrial paper recycling reduces a significant percentage of the carbon emissions and environmental degradation associated with new paper production and manufacturing, it doesn’t mean there are NO negative impacts associated with this process. I know that sounds incredibly disheartening and you’re probably left wondering things like: What am I supposed to do as a consumer if recycling isn’t a perfect solution to solving the climate crisis? and What can I do to be more sustainable while still consuming single use paper products? Well, the most effective solution is to decrease the amount of single use products you consume. But for most people, drastically reducing personal waste isn’t particularly feasible, so here’s one example of a fun and easy way to reduce the amount of paper you send to recycling centers and landfills without having to cut down on consumption:

Make Your Own Paper! (Using old, “pre-loved” paper):

Recycling paper at home is extremely accessible and doesn’t take much time, money, or effort. I was inspired to make my own paper after watching a TikTok video last year in my dorm room. It seemed like a sustainable excuse to write sweet, homemade notes to my new college buddies without spending money at the store AND it gave my old notebooks and scrap paper a new purpose (other than filling up my shelves and recycling bin)! This is a great activity to do with friends and can be done outside or even in your dorm room. 

 

MATERIALS:

• Mould and deckle (i.e., tool for straining the paper pulp and shaping your pages)
  • Pro Tip: buy one from a craft store or from Amazon OR head to your local secondhand store and pick up two wooden picture frames of the same size. Cut a piece, a few inches larger than your frames, out of an old pair of stockings (or any fabric material you have access to that would easily let water drain from it – the more porous the better). Lay the fabric over one of the frames and staple it down.
• Medium sized bin/storage container 
• 2 gallons of water 
• Scrap paper (newspaper, notes, egg cartons, cardstock, etc.)
• 1 small bed sheet
• Blender

STEPS:

1. Rip up all the paper you intend on using – I typically use the equivalent of 1 newspaper per batch of homemade paper – into small pieces.
2. Fill about a ⅓ of the blender with the shredded paper and the rest with lukewarm water. 
3. Blend the paper until the water and paper become a smooth pulpy paste. 
4. Fill the bin/storage container with the 2 gallons of water and pour in the blended paper pulp. Stir the mixture until the pulp is evenly distributed in the water. 
   • Pro Tip: add a few drops of natural fabric dye or a splash of coffee to change the color of the paper. Get creative with it!
5. Place the mould and deckle (or your makeshift one) horizontally into the water with the fabric side on the bottom. Slowly lift the mould and deckle out of the water, making sure to let the water drain from the pulp left on the fabric.
6. Take the still horizontal mould and deckle to the sheet, – which should be laid on a flat surface – remove the top frame and press the page-shaped pulp face down on the sheet. The page-shaped pulp should be left flat on the sheet.
7. Repeat the process until the pulp becomes too thin in the water to form pages or until you have made the desired number of pages.
8. Let the pages, now laying on the bed sheet, dry for at least 48 hours before gently peeling them off the sheet.
9. And that’s it! Now you have homemade paper for writing anything from love letters to organic chemistry notes!

 

With the holidays just around the corner, make sure to tie a piece of ribbon or twine around a stack of your beautiful, handmade paper and gift it to a loved one. I’m sure they will adore your practical and sustainable present! Have fun crafting!!

 

 

Citations:

“Is Paper Better than Plastic?” BBC News, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/future/bespoke/made-on-earth/how-paper-is-making-a-comeback/.

Parker, Laura. “Plastic Pollution Facts and Information.” Environment, National Geographic, 3 May 2021, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution.

Pullen, Kate. “Create Your Own Handmade Papers from Recycled Card.” The Spruce Crafts, The Spruce Crafts, 30 July 2020, https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/make-unique-handmade-paper-by-recycling-2905566.