Thursday 3 March 2011

Bamboo Copy Paper

The first product article I’m writing about is our newest product, so it seems fitting that it should be first cab off the rank. Frogprint Bamboo Copy Paper.

Not many people pay much attention to the copy paper they use on a daily basis, but they do know where it comes from, trees! Billions of sheets are fed through copiers and printers every day and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out a lot of trees need to come down to facilitate this demand.

In a recent trip to China JMP were introduced to a company that produces a vivid white copy paper, one that requires not one single tree to be lopped to produce it. This particular paper is made from 100% bamboo. It looks feels and prints like your regular Reflex style paper, however the secret to bamboo paper is its environmental advantages over tree-based paper.

The advantages are numerous. Bamboo is a member of the grass family and as we all know grass grows very quickly. Some bamboo species can grow a metre in one single day. That is an extreme case but on average bamboo will grow up to ten times faster than trees. Therefore it can be harvested and replenished at a far greater rate.

Bamboo will also give off up to 35% more oxygen than trees and absorb up to 4 times the amount of carbon! Definitely a carbon footprint worth exploring!

Bamboo also grows rapidly without the need for harmful pesticides and chemicals ensuring a cleaner and safer environment for those living within the plantation region and those involved in the manufacturing process.

A major problem with using trees for paper is the deforestation and uprooting of soil when felling trees. This can create a major imbalance to the eco-system and have ever lasting effects. No such problems with bamboo. Bamboo is actually cut above ground and the remaining section grows on for the next harvest. No uplifting of soil, no soil erosion!

Like normal paper, bamboo paper is 100% recyclable and re-usable and is now produced in a volume that makes apples for apples on price with your major brands such as Reflex.

Bamboo really is the next great product. Day by day I am seeing it infiltrate our lives more and more through many produdcts including copy paper, reusable fabric bags, manchester style products and even through the fashion industry.

Bamboo is definitely a great material and it also won’t cost the earth!!!


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