Unlike paper made from trees, the ARCH paper process uses no acids, dyes, mordants, bleach, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), carbon disulfide (CS2), sodium sulfide (Na2S), or sulfite (SO3). The cotton paper produced is pH neutral and of archival quality. Cotton papers have been in use much longer than paper from trees, and cotton papers are known to last several hundred years without fading, discoloring or deteriorating.
What is the story of ARCH paper?
ARCH Paper began in 1998. Kelly Stewart, President of Remains Inc, asked chemist Ted Gast to investigate repurposing worn cotton and cellulosic textiles. After five years of work, Gast developed an efficient process to repurpose otherwise discarded materials into high quality paper for the artistic and craft markets.
How do you process the used clothing?
We receive 500-1000 lb. bales of used clothing and household textiles in full 44,000 lb. truck loads from thrift stores and charitable institutions. The trucks are emptied and the material is inspected by trained sorters and separated into 26 categories. After being graded and sorted by color, it is decontaminated, then processed into finished bales of 1000 lbs. of shrink-wrapped shred. The shred is then milled into our 100% post-consumer, 100% cotton paper.
What about using other fibers besides cotton?
Experiments are currently underway to investigate the suitability of a much wider variety of textiles, including rayon, canvas, silk, acrylic, Kenaf and Sisal. Maintaining the high quality of the final paper product is our primary concern.
Where can I learn more about the chemistry of papermaking?
"The three 40 page spiral bound books we put together turned out beautifully.... we were very happy with the outcome, and it will make a splash for our purposes. " Ida Siegfield
"I am truly impressed with the consistent weight/thickness of the sheets. The check will be in the mail today." Betsy Dollar, executive director of Friends of Dard Hunter