Gift from the East

• Cotton, flax and hemp are used for paper as well as fabric
  
  Paper, which is named for Egyptian papyrus, was actually invented in the second century by the Chinese. The Egyptians made papyrus with the stems of the papyrus plant, laid at 90 degree angles and soaked and compressed to form a thick, brittle substance that could be used to make long sheets, called scrolls. The Egyptian papyrus, first produced in the third century B.C.E., was a cheap alternative to parchment, which the Greeks made with animal (usually sheep) skins. The Chinese used Eucalyptus, rice and other cellulose-rich plants to perfect a substance that had a smooth surface like parchment, could be folded and used to make books. It was also inexpensive enough to produce that thousands of orders could be issued to the populace instead of just hundreds. The substance was brought west by Arab and Italian traders who called the material "paper" because of its similarity to the rougher, less durable papyrus.
  
  

Cellulose and Technology

• Threads of fabric in a dollar bill (photo U.S. government)
  
  Almost all paper today is made using cellulosic fiber from plants. It is made using the same soaking and pressing "mechanical" methods used by the Chinese or by "chemical" processes that break down the fibers of the plant to a fine texture that is then dried and coated. Chemical processes create very dense papers, used where strength is important or for printing. Mechanically-processed papers are less dense and are used for newspapers, school tablets and paperbacks---anywhere an inexpensive, less permanent paper is needed. Both processes use fiber derived from wood, cotton and flax, mainstays of western papermaking. Cotton and flax, both plants that are used to make cotton and linen cloth, are used in both raw and finished cloth form to make fine papers.
  
  

Blame Gutenberg's Press

• Paper manufacters have developed recycling and reforestation plans
  
  Until the nineteenth century, when demand outran supply due to rising literacy rates, most western paper was made using cotton, flax and hemp---and rags of cloth made from these plants. Many currencies, including that of the U.S. still use a fabric-based mix but "mass market" papermaking began using wood fiber, preferably from softwoods like pine that broke down easily. Unfortunately, wood also contained resin, an acidic substance that tended to yellow paper over time and cause it to become brittle. Today, paper makers remove as much resin as possible and use mixes that contain more cotton, flax and other materials to make more durable, "acid-free" papers for uses where longevity matters. Artists may use eucalyptus, rice plant and mulberry pulp, all first used in the Orient, to make handmade papers for everything from water color to book flyleaves. And, beginning with the re-use of old rags, ways have been found to recycle old paper, cutting down on the need to harvest timber resources by reusing old paper for newspapers and other uses where inexpensive, non-permanent stock is acceptable.