|
Paper is thin material
mainly used for writing upon, printing upon or for packaging. It is
produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp
derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible
sheets. Paper is a versatile material with many uses. Whilst the most
common is for writing and printing upon, it is also widely used as a
packaging material, in many cleaning products, in a number of industrial
and construction processes, and occasionally as a food ingredient,
particularly in Asian cultures. |
|
|
|
Some
paper manufacturers have
started using a new, significantly more environmentally friendly
alternative to expanded plastic packaging made out of paper, known
commercially as paper foam. The packaging has very similar mechanical
properties to some expanded plastic packaging, but is biodegradable and
can also be recycled with ordinary paper. With increasing environmental
concerns about synthetic coatings (such as PFOA) and the higher prices
of hydrocarbon based petrochemicals, there is a focus on zein (corn
protein) as a coating for paper in high grease applications such as
popcorn bags. Also, synthetics such as Tyvek and Teslin have been
introduced as printing media as a more durable material than paper. |
|
|
