AGRIPULP
is a new alternative in the paper making industry. It is a process
where crop residue is used to manufacture paper for the printing
industry. Environmentally friendly and re-usable, Agripulp looks
to be a product printers will have to look at because of the potential
to produce paper of equal if not better quality than traditional
wood pulp paper.
Across
the rural landscapes and prairie grasslands of North America,
there are vast amounts of raw materials going to waste. Millions
and millions of tons of residues of grain stocks like wheat, oats,
rye, barley and even things like corn stalks are waiting to be
used as paper. Agripulp is an agricultural fiber pulp and a waste
paper combination, so that new fiber portions are replaced by
agricultural fiber rather than the virgin wood pulp.
The
technology was first developed in the 1980's. A demonstration
plant has produced paper, which was made from 50% wheat pulp,
and 50% old corrugated boxes that had been bleached into white
pulp and blended up.
The
newsprint pulp has been made at the Vulcan, BC mill from fescue
straw from the Peace River, BC area, ryegrass straw from Oregon
and rice straw from California. The Los Angeles Times and the
New York Times have made successful trial runs of Agripulp newsprint.
Agripulp
newsprint has the potential to be produced at less cost than regular
newsprint. It could be as much as 15% less plus the environmental
benefits of the product. Some more tests and marketing exercises
are needed to confirm the cost patterns.
Concepts
described in this report were provided by Al Wong, Agripulp developer,
during a seminar held in Spokane, WA on November 8, 1996. Prepared
by John D. Fouts, WSU Cooperative Extension.
Agricultural
Sustainability. Highlights from a seminar series conducted by
Washington State University's Ag Horizons Team and funded by USDA
Western Region SARE.
John
D. Fouts
222 N. Havana
Spokane, WA 99202-4799
Phone: (509) 477-2176
FAX: (509) 477-2087
fouts@wsu.edu
Al
Wong
Phone: (604) 332-1317
info@agripulp.com
