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Stone paper products, also referred to as bio-plastic paper, mineral paper or rich mineral paper, are strong and durable paper-like materials manufactured from calcium carbonate bonded with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin. They are used in many of the same applications as cellulose-based paper. [1] [2]
Stone paper has a density range of 1.0-1.6g/cm3, which is equal to or slightly higher than that of ordinary paper, and a texture somewhat like that of the outer membrane of a boiled egg. It is not biodegradable or compostable, but is photo-degradable under suitable conditions. [3] It consists of roughly 80% calcium carbonate, 18% HDPE and 2% proprietary coating. [4]
Because it is not made from cellulose fibers, stone paper can have a smoother surface than most traditional products, eliminating the need for additional coating or lamination. [5] The calcium carbonate is mined from quarries or precipitated from limestone. [4] The production of stone paper uses no acid, bleach or optical brighteners. [6] It can be recycled into new stone paper, but only if recycled separately at dedicated civic amenity sites or other recycling/waste processing points. [7] [6]
Stone paper products are compatible with inkjet or solid ink printers (e.g., offset, letterpress, gravure, flexographic) but do not respond well to very high temperature laser printers. [8] [9]
Comparisons have been made between stone paper and traditional paper for applications like book printing in Europe. [10] If stone paper replaced coated and uncoated graphic printing stock in Europe, it could potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by 25% to 62%, water consumption by 89% to 99.2%, and wood usage by 100% compared to current European consumption, which is mostly of virgin paper. [4] [11] The environmental benefits of stone paper relative to recycled paper are much less substantial. [4] [12] [13]
This article needs additional citations for
verification. (August 2019) |
Stone paper products, also referred to as bio-plastic paper, mineral paper or rich mineral paper, are strong and durable paper-like materials manufactured from calcium carbonate bonded with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin. They are used in many of the same applications as cellulose-based paper. [1] [2]
Stone paper has a density range of 1.0-1.6g/cm3, which is equal to or slightly higher than that of ordinary paper, and a texture somewhat like that of the outer membrane of a boiled egg. It is not biodegradable or compostable, but is photo-degradable under suitable conditions. [3] It consists of roughly 80% calcium carbonate, 18% HDPE and 2% proprietary coating. [4]
Because it is not made from cellulose fibers, stone paper can have a smoother surface than most traditional products, eliminating the need for additional coating or lamination. [5] The calcium carbonate is mined from quarries or precipitated from limestone. [4] The production of stone paper uses no acid, bleach or optical brighteners. [6] It can be recycled into new stone paper, but only if recycled separately at dedicated civic amenity sites or other recycling/waste processing points. [7] [6]
Stone paper products are compatible with inkjet or solid ink printers (e.g., offset, letterpress, gravure, flexographic) but do not respond well to very high temperature laser printers. [8] [9]
Comparisons have been made between stone paper and traditional paper for applications like book printing in Europe. [10] If stone paper replaced coated and uncoated graphic printing stock in Europe, it could potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by 25% to 62%, water consumption by 89% to 99.2%, and wood usage by 100% compared to current European consumption, which is mostly of virgin paper. [4] [11] The environmental benefits of stone paper relative to recycled paper are much less substantial. [4] [12] [13]