The Millennial Files

Turning Killer Algae into Killer Paper

It seems like lately, eveyday, I am seeing more news of glaciers melting too soon, global climate change gaining credibility and people and governments (local, state and federal) taking action to prevent or at least mitigate the consequences of global warming. Several nations have outlawed the incandescent bulb, are developing more alternative energy resources such as solar, wind and biodiesel and developing policies that will curb their dependence on fossil fuels.

As we come to accept the existence of global climate change, we must also come to terms with what to do with potentially toxic by-products, or those that will increase heat-trapping gases and compound their impact. The most common example of this is the harnessing of methane gas, a by-product of decaying waste (and cow feces), as a source of clean energy. Other than that, no one I am aware of, has any idea what to do with the other greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2), other than sequestering it, or and nitrous oxide, which in this case does not leave us laughing.

A significant effect of global warming has been an increase in the production of algae in our oceans, which is toxic to the life it surrounds. In essence, as ocean water temperatures rise, algae blooms abound and cut off the oxygen fish, corral and other organisms depend on for survival. Recently a burst was discovered along a stretch of California coast. Even though I am pleased global climate change is gaining traction as being real, every time I hear stories like this, I view it as one more nail in our collective coffin.

Imagine my surprise at the news an Italian paper company, Cartiera Favini has developed a process for converting algae and other waste products into paper. “EcoFavini” was launched in 1991, as part of a project to reduce its use of natural resources and develop using new raw materials to produce paper, instead of the traditional tree pulp.

One such alternative is the algae blooms found in the Adriatic Sea, which in the 1990’s, measured 50,000 tons. Their research and development team established a way to use that amount (the equivalent of 30,000 tons of trees) as a substitute for some of the cellulose fiber used in producing paper. No chemicals are used, and the process requires only half the amount of energy used to process wood. This is a savings of 20 trees and forty tanks of fuel on a daily basis. (I’ll let you do the math for annual savings). At present, the costs production are still higher than the traditional paper process, but given the rise in fossil fuel prices, it could be just a matter of time before algae paper becomes competitively priced.

Also in the works is Sugar and Maize Paper, which are made from the waste of processing sugar beets for the sugar, and maize for the corn. The most compelling and far reaching are Smog and Sludge Paper. What all these projects have in common is they demonstrate the viability of using one industry’s waste for another’s raw material.

If the rest of the world can take note of this, it could represent a significant inroad in curbing global climate change.