It takes about nine trees, as big around as telephone poles and as tall as four-story buildings, to make that much paper. About half of the wood we use goes into paper products, including boxes, stationery, computer printouts, napkins, magazines, and more. Some of these items contain recycled fiber, but most of them are still made from newly cut trees. Luckily, our paper use doesn't have to threaten forests.
Farmers can also grow fiber crops, such as kenaf, for paper.
By making paper from a variety of materials and recycling what we make, we will lighten the load on our forests. Make a list of all the paper products you use and look for ways to cut back . You can use ceramic or recycled plastic instead of paper cups and plates, and washable fabric instead of paper tissues, towels, or napkins. Think of your mail as a source of fresh paper . Gummed labels can rejuvenate envelopes as long as you cover any barcodes.