For the paper industry, fiber is one of the most expensive raw materials. Both its price and availability fluctuate with supply and demand. Paper mills must choose between the clearing of old hardwood forests, which is fairly well controlled and expensive, or harvesting renewable plantations of fast growing tree species like eucalyptus or acacia, which is more economical. Faced with cost and supply factors, paper companies need to decide whether it is better to establish their mills in warm climates where trees mature quickly, increase the proportion of recycled fiber in their fiber mix, or substitute less expensive filler materials as fiber extenders.
Specialty Minerals believes all three scenarios will prevail. In the future, as the world’s production of paper increases, paper mills may be faced with fiber shortages. One of the most viable alternatives is the substitution of filler-for-fiber via mineral fillers like precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). We continue to investigate new engineered filler PCCs to provide maximum functionality at reasonable cost and designed to replace up to 25 percent fiber in uncoated woodfree papers.
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