Paper, one of wood’s oldest uses, is put to use for writing, printing, and for packaging, health and sanitary products, as well as many industrial processes. Recycled paper is made of reconstituted de-inked pulp and composites. Paper is also increasingly used as a green packaging material, a renewable alternative to fossil fuel-based packaging (plastics and foams).

While recycled fibre is an environmental choice, a recent research project found that fresh fibre from sawmill residues and harvesting is essential, partly because recycled fibre breaks down with each use. The study, conducted by Metafore (a non-profit group that works with business, government and other leaders to advance environmental goals), found that, if continually recycled without the addition of fresh fibre, recycled paper supplies for magazines would break down and disappear in weeks, and supplies for newspapers and cardboard boxes would disappear in months. 

Did you know?
Trees and wood products have a unique ability to store carbon. 

Newsprint

Newsprint is an uncoated mechanical paper mainly used in the printing of newspapers. It is well suited for inserts, supplements, directories and timetables. Newsprint is primarily made of mechanical pulp and recycled fibre from old newspapers and magazines. 

Uncoated mechanical papers

Uncoated papers, excluding newsprint, are composed of fibres mainly from mechanical pulping. They are used for inserts, flyers, magazines, catalogues, directories and books. 

Lightweight coated papers

Lightweight coated papers can be gloss or matte finish, and come in a variety of weights for printing magazines, catalogues, inserts/flyers, supplements and promotional materials. 

Kraft papers

Kraft papers are made predominantly from wood pulp produced by sulphate pulping. They are noted for their strength and, in unbleached grades, used primarily as wrappers and packaging materials. They can be converted into grocery bags, multi-wall sacks, tire wraps and butchers wraps. 

Containerboard

Component materials such as linerboard (LB) and corrugated medium (CM) are used in the manufacture of shipping containers, other corrugated board products and specialty liners (SL) and fibre boards (FB). 

Did you know?

Since 1990, pulp and paper facilities in B.C. have reduced their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 62%, while increasing production volumes.