• Home
  • About
  • Raves
  • Blog
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

Eco-Office Gals

Virtual Assistant Services & WordPress Theme Design

  • Services
    • WordPress Theme Design
    • WordPress Maintenance
    • WordPress Hosting
    • Virtual Assistant Service Hours
    • Graphic Design
    • Social Media
  • Portfolio
  • Contact

June 12, 2010 By Jen Leave a Comment

What Is “Kenaf” Paper?

EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: What is “kenaf” paper? From what I’ve heard, it’s good for the environment. But what exactly are its benefits and where can I obtain some? — Tiffany Mikamo, via e-mail

Kenaf, a fast-growing, non-invasive annual hibiscus plant related to cotton, okra and hemp, makes ideal paper fiber as well as great source material for burlap, clothing, canvas, particleboard and rope. Its primary use around the world today is for animal forage, but humans enjoy its high-protein seed oil to add a nutritious and flavorful kick to a wide range of foods. In fact, kenaf has been grown for centuries in Africa, China and elsewhere for these and other purposes, but environmentalists see its future in replacing slower-growing trees as our primary source for paper.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research shows that kenaf yields some six to 10 tons of dry fiber per acre per year, which is three to five times more than the yield of Southern Pine trees—now the dominant paper pulp source in the U.S. And to top it off, researchers believe kenaf absorbs more carbon dioxide—the chief “greenhouse gas” behind global warming—than any other plant or tree growing. Some 45 percent of dry kenaf is carbon pulled down from the atmosphere via photosynthesis.

No wonder environmentalists are so bullish on kenaf for our common future. “The more kenaf we grow, we can not only absorb significant amounts of the carbon dioxide that is responsible for global warming,” says Bill Loftus of the non-profit Kenaf Research Farm, “but also educate the world on how to be self-sustainable through kenaf’s many properties of providing food, shelter and economic opportunities.”

As to its use for paper, 10 major U.S. newspapers have tested kenaf-based newsprint and were pleasantly surprised by how well it held up and how crisply it displayed text and pictures. And since it is already brighter than wood-based pulp, it requires less bleaching before it can be used to carry ink. But since kenaf is not mass-produced the way paper trees are on big plantations across the Southeast and West, it still costs more than regular paper and as such has not gone mass market, despite its environmental.

Also, while some policymakers and many environmentalists would like to see our paper feedstock switched from Southern Pine and other trees to kenaf, entrenched timber companies with big investments in tree farms (and who employ many a Washington lobbyist) do not. And with many timber companies already suffering economically, lawmakers are unlikely to mandate changes that could make matters worse.

Even if kenaf doesn’t become the paper of tomorrow, it may still have a bright future. The Kenaf Research Farm reports that Toyota is already using kenaf grown in Malaysia for insulation and interiors in some cars. Toyota is also experimenting with using kenaf to reinforce the sugarcane- and maize-based biopolymers it hopes can replace many of the plastic and metal parts in the vehicles it is designing today.

Your best bet for finding some kenaf paper is to try a specialty art supply or stationery store. One good online source is The Natural Abode. Photographers might try using kenaf photo paper, such as Pictorico’s ART Kenaf, in their ink jet printers to give their snaps a unique look and a green pedigree.

CONTACTS: USDA, www.usda.gov; Kenaf Research Farm, www.kenafresearchfarm.com; The Natural Abode, www.thenaturalabode.com; Pictorico ART Kenaf, www.pictorico.com.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk®, c/o E – The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. E is a nonprofit publication. Subscribe: www.emagazine.com/subscribe; Request a Free Trial Issue: www.emagazine.com/trial.

Related

Filed Under: Eco-Office Products Tagged With: environment, environmental magazine, Green, hibiscus plant, Kenaf paper, paper fiber, tree free paper

About Jen

Jennifer Smith provides Green Virtual Assistant Services to grow small businesses paperless and sustainable providing various e-services. Her passion is customizing StudioPress Themes for WordPress for her awesome clients. View her portfolio here.

« Brand New Eco-Office Gals!
Your Hosting DOES make a difference! »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WP Tools Recommendation

WP Engine CyberHosting14 Special Offer

StudioPress Premium WordPress Themes




Love Us? “Like” Us!

Love Us? “Like” Us!

Join me on Instagram

🌮🌽🌮🌽 YUM! 🌮🌽🌮🌽 YUM!
May your basket be filled with all your favorites! May your basket be filled with all your favorites! Happy Easter 🐣
One down. One to go! #covidvacccine #cvs One down. One to go! #covidvacccine #cvs
18 years, whaaaat?! How did this happen?? Happy Bi 18 years, whaaaat?! How did this happen?? Happy Birthday Love! 💜
Happy 16th birthday 🎂 to my sweet baby girl! 🎈❤️
Time for some #truecrime with #thebabysitterbook b Time for some #truecrime with #thebabysitterbook by @lizarodman
Anniversary dinner. Cheers 🍹🌴🍹 Anniversary dinner. Cheers 🍹🌴🍹
This picture feels like a lifetime ago! We've know This picture feels like a lifetime ago! We've known each other 30 years, been married for 18 of them. There's been ups and downs, good and bad, thick and thin (he's obviously the thin one 😂). 

We've been through a lot, but I like to think that's what makes us stronger. Besides, I don't have time in my life to start training a new one.  Kidding! 😉🥰

Here's to many more years of looking forward to what awaits us beyond the horizon. 

Happy 18th anniversary Troy. ❤️
Checking out #robotloveart Checking out #robotloveart
Follow on Instagram

We’re Featured On…

best climate change and sustainability blogs

Indie Business Network
  • Ads & Sponsorship
  • Sponsored Posts & Reviews
  • Contest & Giveaway Rules
  • Disclaimer & Terms of Use
  • Privacy
🌮🌽🌮🌽 YUM! 🌮🌽🌮🌽 YUM!
May your basket be filled with all your favorites! May your basket be filled with all your favorites! Happy Easter 🐣
One down. One to go! #covidvacccine #cvs One down. One to go! #covidvacccine #cvs
18 years, whaaaat?! How did this happen?? Happy Bi 18 years, whaaaat?! How did this happen?? Happy Birthday Love! 💜
Happy 16th birthday 🎂 to my sweet baby girl! 🎈❤️
Time for some #truecrime with #thebabysitterbook b Time for some #truecrime with #thebabysitterbook by @lizarodman
Anniversary dinner. Cheers 🍹🌴🍹 Anniversary dinner. Cheers 🍹🌴🍹
This picture feels like a lifetime ago! We've know This picture feels like a lifetime ago! We've known each other 30 years, been married for 18 of them. There's been ups and downs, good and bad, thick and thin (he's obviously the thin one 😂). 

We've been through a lot, but I like to think that's what makes us stronger. Besides, I don't have time in my life to start training a new one.  Kidding! 😉🥰

Here's to many more years of looking forward to what awaits us beyond the horizon. 

Happy 18th anniversary Troy. ❤️
Checking out #robotloveart Checking out #robotloveart
And we're back home! Enjoying the @lodestone.candl And we're back home! Enjoying the @lodestone.candles Bonfire scented soy candle I received at the gift exchange night at #indiebusinessretreat, while getting unpacked after an awesome getaway! Thank you @donnamariaceo and @indiebusiness
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Phone
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
This website or its third-party tools use cookies, which are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the cookie policy. If you want to know more or withdraw your consent to all or some of the cookies, please refer to the cookie policy.
By closing this banner, scrolling this page, clicking a link or continuing to browse otherwise, you agree to the use of cookies. Cookie Policy

Copyright © 2021 Eco-Office Gals • ·Market Theme Designed on Genesis