KENAF PAPER

Just the other day, my friend, Kevin, said the words “kenaf paper”.  I had no idea what he was talking about.  He said it is an alternative to paper made from trees.  Intrigued by this possibility, I began investigating and here’s what I found out.

 

Kenaf is a 4,000-year-old crop originating in Africa that grows in many parts of the world including the United States.  It’s a member of the hibiscus family.  Rope, twine, coarse cloth, and paper have been the main uses for the kenaf fiber.

 

Kenaf has lower lignin content, thus it needs fewer chemicals for processing.  It is naturally brighter than wood paper, so it won’t use as much chemicals for bleaching.  Making paper with kenaf would mean not cutting down virgin trees.

 

The seeds from the kenaf plant provide another use.  They produce an edible vegetable oil that is high in antioxidants and can be used in cosmetics and industrial lubricants and as well as bio-fuel.

 

The word seems to be getting around about this paper.  Ecomall.com’s website says: “Companies like Apple, Sony, Warner Bros., REI, J.C. Penney, The Nature Co., The Gap, Esprit International and Birkenstock have begun to use kenaf paper for catalogues and other purposes.  Major Printing and Graphics firms such as Kinkos, Anderson Lithographics, George Rice and Sons, Ventura Printing and Lithographix now provide printing services on kenaf paper.”

 

Just when I thought everything about kenaf seemed fine and dandy, I discover a just concern.  If people bought kenaf paper, they might not buy post-consumer recycled paper.  The recycled paper has enormous benefits too.  It reduces land use; does not require water, fertilizers, or pesticides; and is less environmentally costly to make.  There is a reason environmentalists pushed hard for paper to be recycled.  Are they now abandoning that effort?

 

What are conscientious consumers (like us) to think?  Chime in with your thoughts. 

 

Keepin’ it Green,

The Green Giant