Most paper, though, is made from conifer trees. This is because wood pulp is easy to produce, relatively inexpensive, and it makes strong paper. The wood is chipped and chemically processed to separate the cellulose fibers from the lignin that toughens them. Then, machines beat the resulting pulp to break down the fibers, and the pulp is spread on a fine screen. As the water filters out, the tangled fibers dry into sheets.
Recycled paper is made using a similar process but requires less energy.
The wood is already broken down so the fibers are easier to separate and spread. Recycling also saves trees. Recycling also conserves and protects other natural resources. It uses 70 percent less energy and 60 percent less water, and it reduces pollutants by 50 percent. Americans currently recycle 25 to 30 percent of their paper.