People assume automatically that paper is made from wood, that paper and wood are synonymous.
When the paper indusry was established in the United States, it was a recycling industry. Throughout the centuries, the practice of papermaking has evolved again and again in response to economic growth, historical influences, available raw materials, and the social issues of the day. As social needs have changed over the years, the composition of paper has also changed and has in turn fueled powerful social changes and development. In fact, some argue that the social, technical and economic progress of nations is inextricably linked to the production and use of paper. The invention of paper is usually attributed to Ts'ai Lun, an official in the Chinese royal court, in A.D. 105.