About Arch Paper

Why is ARCH Paper the greenest paper on earth?

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?

Check out the excellent resources at Catherine Nash's blog. 

ARCH Paper On the Road

• ACS Green Chemistry Conference, College Park, MD 2009 June 23rd (abstract)
• How Design Conference, Austin Texas, 2009 June 24-27

ARCH Paper In the News

• Go Green:  Chemist Makes Paper Without Using Trees, KMOV television interview, 2008 November 20
• 2008 National Stationary Show

Art with ARCH Paper

• Petite Art Exibit at the Annual Friends of Dard Hunter meeting, 2009, Kona Hawaii

Testimonials

•  "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

Related Links

• What's that Stuff? - Paper Green J Find a Green Store

   

  Dignitaries Visit ARCH Paper

             

  Bill Carroll (center) 2005 President of the American Chemical Society visits ARCH Paper
   
  Mizzou chancellor's wife, Anne Deaton, visits ARCH Paper.
  

   

    
  

  Katie Hunt (center) 2007 President of the American Chemical Society visits ARCH Paper

  	Contact Us           We are located in St. Louis, Missouri     You can:         Call us at 314-865-0301 or          Drop us an email at sales@archpaper.net

   

   
   
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