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It's Not What You Think - Please Don't Smoke the
Bulletin
D. Hawthorne
An Old World fiber species, Kenaf (rhymes with giraffe)
is a major fiber crop in Africa and Asia. This newsletter
is printed on domestic Kenaf. We have resumed using Kenaf
for the Bulletin, despite its relatively high price compared
to the alternative of recycled content paper. Paper costs
are a small portion of the cost of bringing our members the
Bulletin and the decision reflects our mission to support
environmentally friendly alternatives. Four membership
renewals offset the extra cost for 1995.
An annual related to cotton and okra, Kenaf produces more
fiber per acre than pine trees, and is naturally brighter
and does not require the toxic bleaching processes common to
new (or recycled) wood fiber papers. It has been used as a
substitute for fiberglass in molding interior car panels and
could be used for making architectural sheet goods. Easy
growing Kenaf requires little input or management.
A member of the Hibiscus family, the 14 foot tall plants
gained interest in the US in the 70's when newsprint prices
soared and publishers sought a domestically produced
alternative to imported wood fibers. Cultivated in
California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Delaware,
Kenaf has been successfully tested by the Bakersfield
Californian and the Peoria Journal-Star.
The outer quarter, called "bast", has long, strong fibers,
good for everything from cordage to fine paper. The pulpy
"core" has been used as a filtration medium, litter, even as
dietary fiber in bread. The highest potential may be
combining the fibers into newsprint, avoiding the energy
used for separating the two forms of fiber. Sporadically
available at copy shops (the University Avenue Kinko's
carries this and other tree free papers) and stationers,
buying Kenaf reduces the demand for wood fiber and makes a
consistent value statement about moderating the effects of
our consumption.
KENAF:
· can be grown near use to reduce
transport energy
· requires less energy to mill into paper than wood
· doesn't require toxic bleaching
This article is the first in a series
informing ADPSR members about products which can make a
difference. David Hawthorne, February/1995.
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