OKI Printing Solutions of Japan and China's Dalian Polytechnic have announced their agreement to partner in developing innovative paper using annual plants, instead of wood-based paper.
Leveraging their strengths, the forest-saving paper developed and manufactured will be of high quality, ideal for colour printers.
The eco-friendly paper will be launched and mass produced initially for the Asian market by 2009.
In China, there has been growing need for an ideal paper of high quality for colour printing. Suppling high quality paper made of wood had become a challenge to meet such demand since wood prices have been increasing due to the increasing desertification.
Paper had in the past been made from plants such as hibiscus cannabinus, but there were issues surrounding its use in colour printers because of its lack of glossiness as well as the excessive paper dust created.
Under the joint research, paper with high functionality that excels in physical characteristics such as toner transfer efficiency, coefficient of friction necessary to maintain continuous stability, electrical resistance and smooth surface will be developed.
Dalian Polytechnic will analyse the paper and research the materials to be used and the manufacturing process whilst Oki Data Corporation will test the paper’s physical characteristics and printed image.
"As China continues to grow rapidly, paper consumption has become one of the key issues in terms of environmental conservation," says Mikihiko Maeno, CEO and president of Oki Data Corporation.
"Not only will we contribute to the development of recycling paper ideal for colour page printers but we will also aim to hold back the expanding deserted areas."
OKI Printing Solutions says it is committed to developing products, services, and processes that are environmentally friendly and help maintain a sustainable future.
