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Metals and Other Materials - How Much Wood Is Used To Make A Ton Of Paper?

How much wood is used to make a ton of paper?

It takes two cords of wood to make one ton of a typical paper (one cord equals 128 cubic feet). The paper-making process also requires 55,000 gallons (208,000 liters) of water, 102 pounds (46 kilograms) of sulfur, 350 pounds (159 kilograms) of lime, 289 pounds (131 kilograms) of clay, 1.2 tons of coal, 112 kilowatt hours of power, 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of dye and pigments, and 108 pounds (49 kilograms) of starch. It uses smaller amounts of other ingredients.

In the United States, the wood used for the manufacture of paper is mainly from small-diameter, softwood trees, such as spruce.

Source: Haygreen, John G. Forest Products and Wood Science, 2nd ed., pp. 410-12.

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