Table of Contents
What is Tree Free Paper
Did you know that all paper was made by hand until 1798? The source of paper was mainly cotton rags and plant fibers.
However, with the advent of printing and more demand for paper, trees were found to be an alternate solution to paper.
Fortunately, in the 21st century, the revival of creating tree-free paper is picking up pace with more people wanting cleaner and sustainable tree free paper products.
So Grab your mould, get that vat ready and get your hands down and make some earth-friendly paper
Look through your fiber collection options.
Most material that contains over 60% cellulose can be made into paper. So look around your neighbourhood for options. Textile rags, coffee husk, corn husk, mulberry sticks all make for the great paper
Preparing the fiber for paper making.
Most plant fiber needs to be cooked with soda ash to remove lignin so as to allow sheets to form.
Cotton Rags can be soaked and beaten directly without cooking
The Beating Process for Paper
Once the fiber is ready, Put it through a beating process. A Hollander beater works and so does a blender
Paper Making
Take the beaten pulp in a tub and use a screen to lift water and fiber. Let the water help the intertwining of fibers and then drain it out.
Couching paper
This method of pressing the wet sheet onto a cloth or felt to remove excess water and begin the drying process is called couching; pronounced ` kooching`
Drying paper
Let the paper air dry by hanging it with clothespins. In a day you have your very own tree-free paper. You are part of the crowd that supports trees and looks for alternate ways of paper.
So give yourself a pat on the back. You are an earth-friendly homo sapien!
At Bluecat paper, our papermakers strive to make even sheets with plant and cotton rags every day. Thereafter we convert it into beautiful tree free paper products like wrapping paper and other paper products that are sure to interest and amaze you
