Paper. Something we use everywhere at any time. In offices, at school, at shops, advertisements, and much more. But how is this incredibly useful material made?
Step 1:
Trees are cut down to logs. The bark is removed by a powerwash using recycled water as paper can’t be made by it. The inner tree is chemically/ mechanically pulped in industrial machines. The pulping process breaks down the chemical lignin. Lignin is a chemical that holds a plant rigidly, and firmly. It is mostly found in the cell wall. Thus, the inner tree is turned into a “pulp”. It is smudged and the consistency is similar to porridge.
Step 2 :
The pulp or mesh is compressed and stretched thinly. These are fed to a press section where 50% of the water is squeezed out. This machine resembles a huge metal rolling pin. Almost around 90% of this squeezed-out water is recycled in most paper-making companies to powerwash the paper in the earlier stage. The sheets are then heated up to dry more quickly.
Step 3:
The dried paper is then rolled up and is applied a film of chemicals. This is made to improve the properties of the paper. The finished product is then packaged and shipped around the world for many different uses.
As you can see, even something we take so for granted like paper includes a lot of time, work, and effort. So let’s try to be more grateful for the little things by not wasting this resource.
thevoiceolis 