The life cycle of print starts with paper choices – specifying environmentally preferable paper products can reduce the effect that printing has on the planet. Over the past two centuries, wood is the primary raw material in paper manufacturing. However, wood-based paper carries a significant “ecological shadow” of energy consumption, bleaching chemicals, and water used in its production. In its 2010 report, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) identified pulp and paper industry as one of the largest direct contributors to human toxicity. The substances from paper and paperboard mills that contribute most to human toxicity impact are mercury (II) ion, beryllium, and hydrogen fluoride. Motivated by legislation, consumer pressure, and the desire to become more efficient, the pulp and paper industry in the United States has invested in new technologies and processes that reduce its environmental impact. Tree-free fiber used in production is one way to minimize or eliminate the environmental impacts. This paper studied sustainable development and use of tree-free copy paper for the laser printer. The color reproduction capability and process capability of tree-free paper were evaluated in terms of optical density, print contrast, and color gamut.
Yu-Ju Wu, "Color Reproduction Consistency and Capability of Tree-free Copy Paper" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP28), 2012, pp 8 - 11, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2012.28.1.art00005_1