Jun 28
001

10 Fun Facts About Paper & the Paper Industry

By Paige Wills in Facts About Deforestation, Facts About The Paper Industry, How Paper Is Environmentally Friendly, Why Choose Paper?

 
English: Used paper is collected for paper rec...

English: Used paper is collected for paper recycling in Ponte a Serraglio near Bagni di Lucca, Italy Deutsch: Altpapier auf einem Recyclinghof in Ponte a Serraglio bei Bagni di Lucca, Italy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Since this will be my last month blogging for EMA, I want to spend it reiterating the importance not only paper plays in our daily lives, but the positive impact the paper industry has on our economy as well.

So I thought I’d share 10 fun and interesting facts about paper and the paper industry that you may not know.

According to the American Forest and Paper Association’s (AF&PA), PaperRecycles, and TwoSides websites:

  1. Every day, U.S. paper makers recycle enough paper to fill a 15 mile long train of boxcars (AF&PA).
  2. Benjamin Franklin was the first paper merchant in America. He helped start 18 paper mills in Virginia and nearby areas (AF&PA).
  3. Cotton and linen rags used to be the raw materials papermaker’s used (AF&PA).
  4. “During the American Revolution, paper was so hard to find that soldiers ripped pages from books to use them as wadding for their rifles” (AF&PA).
  5. “In 2010, 77 percent of paper and paperboard mills used some recovered paper and 115 mills used only recovered paper” (AF&PA)
  6. Recycling and recovering one ton of paper saves 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space (AF&PA).
  7. “In 2010, the amount of paper recovered for recycling averaged 334 pounds for each man, woman and child in the United States” (AF&PA).
  8. The Chinese invented paper around 105 A.D. and kept it a secret for many years (AF&PA).
  9. In 2011, paper recovery increased by 1.2 million tons to 66.8 percent, up from 63.5 percent in 2010 and 33.5 percent in 1990. From 1990-2011, recovery of paper and paperboard has increased a total of 81 percent (PaperRecycles.org).
  10. “The U.S. paper and forest products industry accounts for approximately 5 percent of U.S. manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP); is among the top 10 manufacturing employers in 48 states; and employs nearly 900,000 people earning $50 billion annually” (TwoSides).

Share your thoughts.

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Jun 21
000

An E-Book Reader Missing the Smell of Paper Books

By Paige Wills in Why Choose Paper?

 
Novels in a Polish bookstore

Novels in a Polish bookstore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

E-books are extremely convenient. They save us time and in some instances, money. However, one thing that e-books may never have is the physical touch and smell of a book.

There is nothing quite like walking into a library. It has a distinct smell – a smell of old paper. For some, this smell brings back memories – memories of reading in the library or browsing a local bookstore.

A blogger for the New York Times, Nick Bilton, wrote a post titled, “An E-Book Fan, Missing the Smell of Paper and Glue.” In the post, he describes his visit to a bookstore and all the memories it brought back. Bilton wrote, “For those of us who have switched to e-readers, the e-book shopping experience, while immediate and painless, is about as sentimental as a trip to the family doctor. There are no creaking doors, or bells that announce your arrival so someone can smile at you as you walk inside. There isn’t even anything distinctive in the size, shape or feel of the book you’re buying.”

Even though he misses physical books, he wrote that he ended up walking out of the bookstore empty-handed because he remembered how impractical physical books are. He said that he couldn’t physically carry 500 books in his backpack like he does with his e-reader. He went on to write, “Yes, I miss physical books. I miss bookstores, too. I miss them a lot. I only hope that someone figures out how to give their digital counterparts a little more feeling.”

While e-books are more convenient, they just can’t compare in my opinion. You can’t set an e-book on your coffee table or bookshelf to display.

I agree that in a physical sense, e-books can’t compare to real paper books and I don’t think they ever will. Maybe somewhere down the road, someone will invent an e-reader that mimics the smell or feel of a real paper book; however, I’m not sure how well that would work.

What are your thoughts?

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Jun 20
000

Anoto Digital Pen & Paper & Electronic Health Record Technology

By Paige Wills in Why Choose Paper?

 
Ballpoint pen writing. Streaks of ink are visi...

Ballpoint pen writing. Streaks of ink are visible on the ball, indicating the direction of rotation. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There is a big push to make health records electronic. However, the problem is that people are too closely connected to the old-fashion pen and paper. Also, there isn’t a nationwide program that everyone can use and update…What if there was a solution that was the best of both worlds?

According to a press release on Market Watch’s website titled, “Anoto Digital Pen and Paper Facilitating Adoption of Meaningful Use Certified Electronic Health Record Technology,” the technology is being used more in the health care setting.

According to the press release, 80 percent of physicians still use pen and paper. “’This technology is a good option since it doesn’t force a new behavior; you’re simply leveraging something familiar – pen and paper,’ said Pietro Parravicini, senior vice president area manager Americas for Anoto.”

Here is a description from the press release on how the pen works:

“The digital pen is Bluetooth-enabled and contains a tiny digital camera under the tip of the pen that takes pictures at 70 times per second as the user writes. When medical staff fills out paper forms, the handwritten information is recorded onto a chip in the digital pen. When the form is completed, the data in the pen is transferred via a USB docking station or through Bluetooth transmission. The handwritten information is converted into electronic data and uploaded…”

I think this option could be a great way to use both paper and electronic communication. No one wants to be sitting in the doctor’s office watching the doctor type notes into a tablet or computer. It seems sort of intrusive and impersonal. However, writing notes on paper doesn’t seem as intrusive or impersonal in my opinion. With this technology, uploading the information could be done “behind the scenes” so-to-speak. This could keep both doctor and patient happy.

What are your thoughts?

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Jun 19
000

Paper Camera: An App That Gives Pictures a Paper Sketch Effect

By Paige Wills in Why Choose Paper?

 
English: An image of an iPad 2.

English: An image of an iPad 2. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are an unlimited number of applications we can download on our phones, iPod’s, and iPad’s. There are tons of apps that allow people to do fun things to pictures. A popular app is Instagram. However, one app caught my eye for a different reason. Instead of making you look like a professional photographer, it makes you look like a professional artist in my opinion.

It’s called paper camera. I personally have not used it, but from its description, it seems like something I would be interested in purchasing. It allows users to change an ordinary picture into a sketch. Here is the description from Google Play’s website:

“See the world through a novel, original, stylish and captivating lens.

Real time cartoon and painting effects displayed on your camera feed! See the world through a new, original, stylish and captivating lens, have a wonder in your own home and discover how cool is now your world in cartoon!

This is the ultimate collection of cartoon/sketch/comic book/half tone/noir/neon and many other effects painted directly in your camera, no more boring post-effects, it’s all real time, you simply won’t stop wandering, wherever you are, having a look at things and cartoon-ize them!

You can wave your phone around and see the world change before your eyes, take pictures using any of the stylish cartoon effects or apply them to your existing photos.”

You wouldn’t think paper would have anything to do with technology. However, the idea of paper is heavily embedded into today’s technology.  E-readers now allow people to “turn the page,” giving it an “authentic, book feel.” Other’s allow people to type notes on “notebook paper.” In my opinion,this just goes to show that even in this technological era, consumers crave the feel and look of paper because it is such a staple in our society.

Share your thoughts.

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Jun 18
000

Paper Straws for your Next Cookout

By Paige Wills in How Paper Is Environmentally Friendly, Why Choose Paper?

 
Drinking straws

Drinking straws (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It’s summertime and we all know what that means – barbecues, cookouts, and parties. Paper plates and cups are usually a must have at these types of gatherings. However, did you know you can purchase paper straws?

Drinking straws are usually made out of plastic and wrapped in paper. We never really think about the environmental implications a straw has on the environment. It is something that can probably be recycled, but more times than not, it is simply thrown away.

I was recently in the store, and a green package of red –striped straws caught my eye. I assumed they were plastic as most straws are. However, they were made from paper. At first it doesn’t seem possible…how can a straw made from paper work? But then I remembered the candy “Pixy Stix.” You would think that as soon as the straw gets wet that it would wilt like all other wet paper does. However, I guess they don’t.

The brand is called Kikkerland. It looks like the paper straws come in different colors: red, blue, or grey. These would be perfect for a July 4th party. I’m going to buy some and see how they work for my next cookout.

I’m not sure if the straws can be recycled, but I assume they can be. If not, according to Kikkerland’s website, the straws are eco-friendly and biodegradable since they are made from paper.

So this could be a fun addition to your next cookout or a random conversation piece.

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