Graspaper – an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional paper
Wood paper vs. the environment
As industrial and technological development continues, we are paying more and more attention to whether our potential negative impact on the environment. It might seem that widespread internet access and the digitalisation would lead to a reduction in the consumption of paper products. Nothing could be further from the truth – the paper industry's output continues to grow.
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The manufacture of paper involves high consumption of natural resources (trees) and energy, as well as significant CO2 emissions.
We can try to offset the negative environmental effects of paper production by, for example, introducing independent FSC certification, which ensures that paper production is based on sustainable forest management. However, the idea of replacing wood as raw material in paper production with something more environmentally friendly, common and easier to process is on the rise.
And this is where grass comes into play.
Grass as a raw material for paper
Long overlooked by the industry, grass is proving to be a material with excellent qualities not only in terms of the environment, but also production – it can be used to produce paper for standard printing technologies, such as offset. Moreover, production does not require chemicals, only mechanical processing.
What about the environment?
In the area of environmental protection, Graspaper is second to none. Here are some key statistics:
- 95% less CO2 emissions – compared to paper made from wood;
- Graspaper is much simpler to produce and therefore emits significantly less carbon dioxide;
- 99% water saving – grass grows much faster than trees and is less demanding, and only a small amount of water is used in the production process;
- 0% chemicals – Graspaper is not bleached and has no chemical additives, making it completely safe for the environment.
Life cycle of Graspaper products
Graspaper is like any other paper, therefore:
- it can be treated like waste paper – recycling is the preferred form of waste paper treatment;
- it can be composted – Graspaper is fully natural, so it can be used as compost without worrying about the negative impact on the environment.
Is there any downside to Graspaper?
The complete absence of chemicals in the production process means that Graspaper is not bleached. However, it is not green. It resembles classic cardboard in colour with a distinct organic texture.
At TEK, we attach particular importance to the production of eco-friendly packaging, so printing on Graspaper is available to all our customers.