“Little Pig Looks for Rain,” a children’s picture book on extreme climate change and environmental protection published in Taiwan in late January, practices what it preaches: Its pages are made of 65 percent powdered stone mixed with recycled plastics.
This “stone paper,” hailed as a revolution in the publishing industry, is composed primarily of carbon calcinate and PVC material. Strictly speaking, it is not true paper. But manufacturers love it because of its low price. The manufacturing process does not require water or bleach, so the energy consumption is half what is required for traditional paper production.
This type of paper is not affected by moisture or insects, and will not burn. It can be immersed in water for days and still maintain its original, pristine condition. If something like soy sauce is spilled on the paper, it can be wiped off as soon as it dries. No more worries about stains that will never come out.
Denser than traditional paper, the stone paper produces higher resolutions in printed products. Images reproduced on it are sharp and clear, almost like on a canvas. It is not reflective, and will not tear. These characteristics mean that it will protect readers’ sight, which makes it especially well-suited for picture books.
Moreover, stone paper replaces products made from wood pulp, thereby saving trees while allowing people to continue to enjoy reading.
Industry insiders said stone paper has been under development for over a decade, and more than NT$100 million (US$3.48 million) has been invested to break through the technological bottleneck involved. At present, the technology is mature, and production costs are low.
If the paper is left outdoors in the sun for up to a year, it will naturally decompose into stone dust. It can be recycled and reused. If left indoors untouched for 10 years, it will break down slowly. If it is incinerated, no toxic gases will be produced.
