The Wheat Sheet
In June 2008, Canadian Geographic released their environment issue on the Wheat Sheet, a North American first! It was the first coated paper made with wheat straw in a North America mill and heralded a new age of paper making and publishing.
The Wheat Sheet, was comprised of 20% wheat straw, 40% post-consumer recycled fiber, and 40% totally chlorine free virgin wood fiber, using 60% less virgin tree fiber than conventional magazine paper. It was history in the making.
The Wheat Sheet was the result of a partnership between Canopy, Canadian Geographic, Alberta Innovates (then Alberta Research Council), New Page and Dollco Printing.
It took over fours years to make this paper trial a reality, due the challenges of using alternative paper fibers in North America. After searching for 18 months - first within Canada, and then broadened to North America – the project partners had to turn off-shore to secure a volume of wheat straw pulp.
This was not because we lacked wheat straw fiber here in Canada, but because of a lack of facilities able to pulp the fiber domestically. In the end, we purchased the wheat straw pulp from China, where more than 20% of their paper fiber comes from wheat and rice straws.
Read the Editor's Note from the Canadian Geographic Wheat Sheet Issue
Where can I get Second Harvest straw based paper in North America?
Canopy’s Eco-Paper database lists the best of the best eco-paper available in the North American market place. Imported straw and agricultural residue papers are listed here as well.
Can I get wheat and other Second Harvest paper from my printer?
Canopy is helping printers test straw based papers. Those that currently stock these papers are listed here. If your printer is not listed here, ask them to contact us and we’ll help.
The 'Bou Journal
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