It’s no secret that within the print industry, recycling is important. The amount of paper that gets used daily is on an astronomical scale. That’s precisely the reason that Epson developed the world's first office paper-making system that turns waste paper into new, clean, sheets of paper; the Epson Paperlab.
The process by which companies recycle their waste paper is extremely extensive. Requiring the breakdown of the paper (by means of shredding), transporting the waste to a collection facility then to a recycling plant, and finally back to a paper distributor, the costs of these processes can run rather high. Epson aims to eliminate the need for transportation as well as re-distribution by providing companies with their own means of recycling.
Not only does this process cut down on the necessity for companies to purchase paper, but the impact it has on CO2 emissions due to transportation and manufacturing are great. On top of that, the machine features a waterless process, whereas the normal production of paper requires about one cup of water per single A4 sheet of paper.
"Dry Fiber Technology consists of three separate technologies: fiberizing, binding, and forming.
Fiberizing
Using an original mechanism, waste paper is transformed into long, thin cottony, fibers. This process immediately and completely destroys confidential documents. Since the PaperLab does not use water, it does not require plumbing facilities. That, plus its compact size, makes it easy to install in the backyard of an office.
Binding
A variety of different binders can be added to the fiberized material to increase the binding strength or whiteness of the paper or to add color, fragrance, flame resistance, or other properties needed for a given application.
Forming
Users can produce sheets of A4 or A3 office paper and even paper for business cards thanks to forming technology that allows them to control the density, thickness, and size of paper."
The PaperLab is currently still only a prototype, but even the concept of such a product existing could revolutionize how companies utilize their paper products, and could lead to much more sustainable processes.
