Paper from Plastic an Environmental Solution or Complication?

 

According to an article published this past week by Sustainable Media Enterprises Inc., Honolulu, Hi., USA, on its Sustainablog website, two entrepreneurs have figured out how to make ‘mineral paper’ out of PET plastic bottles. The novel process is intended to be up to four times cheaper than current production methods.

Start-up Cronology, based in Mexico, used the tortilla press as its inspiration for a new machine to press a paste of "recycled plastic bottles, calcium carbonate, and stone." According to company co-founder Ever Adrian Nava, its technology achieves a number of environmental benefits. "We don’t use water or chemicals...The mineral paper is reportedly stronger than the standard; you cannot break it with your hands, it is waterproof, has the quality of being ‘photodegradable,’ and only absorbs the necessary amount of ink when printing..." The product essentially sounds like a strong, bright semi-tablet that can absorb ink like paper, but not as easily bend, fold, shred, or tear. 

Unmanaged deforestation (which many in the 21st century pulp, paper, and packaging industries are now fighting through managed and sustained forest practices) once inspired Nava and partner Erick Zamudio to research alternatives to paper made from wood pulp. Their technology does help on that front: each ton of their mineral/plastic based paper tablets are equivalent to what is produced from 20 trees. The paper reportedly meets quality standards needed for books, stationary, and product packaging. Sounds like a winner all around... right?

According to the author, while this is a step forward in how the industry might consider future paper production techniques and technology, there is concern in regards to the degradability claims. If biodegradable, it’s definitely positive in regard to sustainability. But if this product is photodegradable (like all plastics), it could end up contributing further to plastic pollution issues in oceans and other ecosystems. What could photodegrade from plastic, which is polymer/petroleum based, could be toxic as well as trigger additional carbon release, a greenhouse gas related to the production of petroleum based products and linked to climate change. 

Both words are used in the press release (as is plain "degradable"). It is not explained how the properties of the pressed mixture that become the new mineral based printing medium transforms traditionally non-biodegradeable plastic into chemical decompositions that are non-harmful to our environment. Degradability of certain materials and environmental pollution can sometimes go hand-in-hand.  

While more paper is being made from sustainable and managed forests, raw wood products such as wood chips and wood pellets are being diverted towards new uses and applications ranging from renewable energy to cellulosic-based building materials far superior to traditional lumber. An alternative to tree-based pulp may be of interest for paper, packaging, and tissue producers in the future, but not likely at the present time. More abundant, fast growing (such as genetically modified eucalyptus), sustainable, and managed forests are top priority when it comes to the forest products industry maintaining their resource renewability as well as availability and price. 

Fast growing managed forests have also been shown to absorb more carbon than overly-matured, unmanaged forests growing naturally, although preservation of natural ecosystems is a priority with many working on the environmental front.

Plastic, however, is overly abundant in its waste form, so much that it is literally filling up entire pockets of the Pacific ocean the size of large U.S. states. Such concepts could be of possible interest for the convenience of paper-related and packaging producers, as well as environmental groups advocating using recycled media in a way to process both plastic and paper based sources, combined together instead of sorted apart, in a new recycled production method to produce more sustainable print-based media. But no such method for producing new printing sheets from a mixture of both recycled paper and plastic, as of yet, exists on any practical level. 

It is also unknown how these products, if ever made, would easily re-enter our chain of recycling. But this development could still represent one of the first steps towards combined media recycled, completely paper-like printing sheets becoming a reality.