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ic exhibition

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Paper and cardboard had the highest waste arisings, at 5.4 million tonnes. 

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Paper and cardboard had the highest waste arisings, at 5.4 million tonnes. 

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https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-waste-data/uk-statistics-on-waste

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1.waste paper in RCA survey

Recording a week's worth of school paper waste

2.collect waste paper

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https://www.arts.ac.uk/students/stories/recycling-waste-paper-for-a-good-cause!

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Art student invents new material using scrap paper

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Art student invents new material using scrap paper

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News | Tuesday, 8th August 2017

Recent Manchester School of Art graduate Hannah Elisabeth Jones' 'Bio-Marble' is patent pending

A recent Manchester Metropolitan University art graduate has invented a new material made from recycled waste paper.
Hannah Elisabeth Jones, 22, originally from Wrexham, graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Textiles from Manchester School of Art in July. During her final year, she devised the concept for her new material invention 'Bio-Marble', when she noticed how much paper was being used by her fellow art students as part of their work.

She started experimenting with different uses for the waste paper, and through a "long process of trial and error," she developed the new fabric.

"It was completely unexpected. I have always been an eco-conscious person, and all of my work throughout university was inspired by sustainability. But I never imagined when I enrolled at Manchester Metropolitan that I'd end up creating something completely original from scraps of unwanted paper," she said.

Hannah creates individual units of the fabric using a method of material fabrication, each with a unique surface pattern. These are then stitched together using techniques inspired by traditional patchwork quilts. Bio-Marble is flexible and completely biodegradable.

She used Bio-Marble for individual pieces of artwork, which she submitted for her final project and exhibited at the Manchester School of Art Degree Show in June.

The property company Bruntwood originally commissioned her to create an artwork using the material for their offices in Manchester, and in recognition of her ingenuity, funded copyright protection of her work through Anti-Copying in Design (ACID) membership.

Bio-Marble is now patent pending, and Hannah is working to develop more functional uses for it, including setting the Bio-Marble in a hard surface to enable it to be used as tiles or in furniture design.

"I am still developing my practice as a young artist, but I want to keep working with Bio-Marble. As well as being decorative, there is a positive message to convey about the environment and reducing waste. I want to keep raising awareness of sustainability in art throughout my career."

"I chose Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University because of the wide range of techniques and skills you are exposed to within the Textiles in Practice course; knit, weave, print and embroidery - so many exciting paths to explore. The Art School itself is beautiful and its workshops and facilities were excellent. Originally, I wanted to be a print designer, but that altered in the first few months of my degree as I had the opportunity to test new and inspiring specialisms."

"I had such fantastic support from my tutors. As soon as I approached them with the idea, they challenged my design processes which encouraged me to develop the quality of my new material. I would not be where I am without Manchester School of Art."

Lesley Mitchison, Programme Leader in Textiles in Practice at Manchester School of Art, Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "Hannah was encouraged to be experimental and exploratory in her use and choice of materials she worked with throughout her degree.

"Her outstanding achievement highlights the dedication and support of the teaching staff at Manchester Metropolitan and the range of opportunities available to students on the Textiles in Practice programme at Manchester School of Art that has enabled Hannah to grow and develop as an independent and creative designer."

A solo exhibition of Hannah's artwork using Bio-Marble opens at the GK Gallery in Manchester this September.

Hannah has been asked to submit samples to show at MoOD in Brussels for their Innovation Sample Bank and at Design Junction in London. She also was recently awarded the 'Material Lab Loves' Award and the 'Colour in Design Loves' Award at the prestigious New Designers 2017. In November, she will exhibit and speak at the Northern Design Festival.

She hopes to continue her art studies with a Masters in London in the near future.

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Art student invents new material using scrap paper

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Recent Manchester School of Art graduate Hannah Elisabeth Jones' 'Bio-Marble' is patent pending

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HOW MUCH PAPER GETS WASTED IN THE UK EACH YEAR?

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HOW MUCH PAPER GETS WASTED IN THE UK EACH YEAR?

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https://www.flexible-storage.co.uk/how-much-paper-gets-wasted-in-the-uk-each-year

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https://baleforce.com/paper-waste-why-does-it-matter-and-how-to-manage-it/

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Worldwide, over 95 million metric tonnes of paper are recovered each year to be made into recycled paper and paperboard. According to Environment Canada, of the 6 million tonnes of paper and paperboard used annually, only 25% of them are recycled; paper waste accounts for more than 1/3 of all wastes in the country.

Paper Waste is a severe problem in many industries and offices. Because of printing mistakes, junk mails, billings, and packaging, the paper may comprise up to 70% of a company's total waste. An average office employee would be using about 10,000 sheets of paper in a year. In addition to paper used for printing, companies also consume other paper products, such as cardboard, envelopes, and wrappers, to name a few.

Investing in a baler and following these tips can help lower costs related to paper waste.

Impact of Paper Waste

With much of the attention focused on plastic disposal, the impact of paper waste is often overlooked. Yet, improper paper waste disposal and recycling can impact the economy and the environment as the other waste products.

Financial Costs When the wrong document is printed or a cartridge leak stains the paper, the typical reaction is to throw these out and print again. If that happens every day, mistakes in printing and equipment maintenance like the printer and fax machine can add up fast. The high costs of the inefficient use of paper are difficult to ignore.

According to research by Gartner, this paper waste can take up between 1% and 3% of the company's revenue . Furthermore, in a separate report, 17% of all things printed amount to nothing but waste.

Litter From torn paper to used wrappers, it is no wonder that a third of all litter is paper products. Littering can make an area entirely unattractive for tourists and business owners. Furthermore, they attract insects and rodents, turning an area into a perfect breeding ground for various diseases.

Deforestation 40% of all traded industrial wood in the world is reserved for pulp and paper industries, which produce office paper, tissue, and paper-based packaging.

Deforestation is detrimental to the ecosystem as loss of habitat can lead to flora and fauna extinction. While many industries have committed to reforestation projects, these artificial forests are often unsustainable and unable to support biodiversity.

Landfill Volume Of the 85 million tonnes of paper dumped each year, they fill about 40% of landfills. Transporting waste costs money, so does managing waste facilities. Likewise, as the volume of waste increases, the land needed to contain them also needs to expand. In addition, paper wastes are often burned, causing air pollution, and some of the chemicals contained in these products may damage the environment.

The Solutions for Paper Wastage

Because paper products are biodegradable, people are complacent when handling paper waste. Nevertheless, the biodegradable nature of paper is not the determining factor of sustainability - the efficiency of waste management and the volume of waste produced are.

Incorporating sustainable waste management in your business has tremendous benefits - but how exactly do you reduce paper wastage?

Here are some solutions:
Think Before You Print
How often does your facility produce printed materials? How much of it is necessary? How much is redundant?

Printing meeting agendas and presentations, for example, is the norm in most companies, but how often do people refer to these handouts? These printouts are typically discarded soon as the meeting is done.

Take advantage of technology. Use digital media to communicate the schedule or add visuals to a presentation whenever possible.

Only print the pages needed. Avoid printing out the whole document if you only need 2 or 3 pages.

Format the document correctly. If you are printing web content, copy-paste the text into a word processor and remove unnecessary texts and images.

If possible, try to fit at least two or more pages or slides on a single page by reducing your handouts' font and margin size.

Check your document before printing. You may end up wasting another print just because you overlooked an important detail.

Use both sides of the paper for printing whenever possible.

Go Paperless
Modern technology has allowed the world to minimize the use of paper. Several alternatives and cloud-based applications are available to reduce the world's paper dependence.

If the option is available, have your company switch to paperless transactions.

Use electronic storage for your materials. For example, save your events on an online calendar. Apps have become so advanced and connected that printing announcements and reminders are optional and only done when necessary.

Switch to digital magazines and newspaper subscriptions.

Software tools have allowed electronic collaboration. In paper collaboration, you have to print your work before you can have it reviewed. New edits would require another batch of printing. However, when you opt to share the document online, you allow recipients to include their ideas and make alterations before printing the final output.

Maximize email and reduce paper mail. More companies prefer to communicate online nowadays. Shifting to electronic mailing also reduces the need for fax printing.

Get Creative
Paper is recyclable and reusable. Paper waste recycling is something that environmental advocates have pushed for many years. It doesn't have to go straight into the trash can after use. With a bit of creativity, you can breathe new life into it. Getting creative with reusing paper is something that you, your family, or your coworkers can easily do.

Many printed papers only utilize one side. You can cut them into smaller pieces and use the unutilized side for your notes.

Don't throw away old newspapers. You can save them for wrapping gifts during company events.

Transform old and used paper into stunning decor for company events.

Reuse cardboards to store inventory.

Paper Waste Management

With the proper reduction of waste and recycling methods, the economic and environmental benefits are tremendous. However, whether you are at home, in an office, or a big industry, paper waste is something that should not be taken for granted. It's time paper-dependent companies should try to sort waste correctly or risk the cost of inefficient management and utilization of paper.

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Paper Waste: Why Does It Matter? - BaleForce Recycling Equipment

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Are you looking for a solution to paper waste with your business? Paper balers and recycling are two key solutions. Here's how you can make a difference.

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https://www.stopwaste.org/at-work/reduce-and-reuse/reduce-paper-use/the-impact-of-paper-waste

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Common types of recyclable paper waste

When cardboard breaks down in a landfill, it can produce methane gas as it decomposes, contributing to global warming. This is why it's always better to recycle cardboard, where it can be used to make materials such as tissues, cereal boxes or new paper. More often than not, cardboard can be recycled along with paper.

Printer paper

It's pretty self-explanatory - printer paper is what you print on in the office. Whether it's been printed on or not, printer paper can be taken to recycling plants, where it can be turned into brand new printer paper.

Leaflets, magazines and newspapers

Whether posted through your office letterbox, brought in by staff to read on a lunch break, or left in the reception for guests to look through, you'd be hard-pressed to find an office without the odd magazine, leaflet or newspaper lying around.

Given that the texture of these is very different to ordinary printer paper, you may be wondering whether these are recyclable. The answer to that is - yes, they can be recycled along with ordinary paper. Magazines and leaflets can be recycled into newsprint, tissue and even stationary, while old newspapers can be repurposed into new ones.

Confidential papers

At this point, you may be asking yourself, "what about recycling shredded paper?"

Anyone who works in an office will know that the odd envelope is bound to crop up here and there.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that envelopes are non-recyclable because of the plastic window or adhesive gum. However, this isn't the case. Once envelopes are sent to a recycling plant, the adhesive gum can be dissolved and the plastic window removed.

The only exception to this is padded envelopes, which cannot be recycled without first removing the padding, which you may be able to recycle separately.

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Getting Rid Of Office Paper Waste | Clear It Waste

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Find out all about waste paper disposal in your office and learn how to dispose of office waste paper legally and safely with Clear It Waste.

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Paper is a popular material used in our daily domestic and working lives even as we move to a more digital world. We still produce and use more than 414 million tonnes of paper every year. This includes everything from printing and writing paper to envelopes, toilet paper, and paperboard.

There are many benefits of paper as it's from a renewable resource, is sustainable, and can be recycled several times. Almost all paper comes from trees, so planting new ones helps contribute to a circular economy. However, responsible recycling and disposal of paper waste is essential for this to happen.

Unfortunately, not all waste paper is recycled and discarded properly. Find out more about how much paper we use and throw away with these paper waste facts and statistics.

Examples of paper waste

Any items you no longer need made from paper are examples of paper waste. This could be a takeaway menu you're throwing out at home, old client documents that need shredding at work, or scrap paper your pupils have been drawing on at school. Another example of waste paper is mill broke - trimmings and offcuts of paper from the manufacturing process.

Some more common examples of waste paper are:

What causes paper waste?

Businesses are a big cause of paper waste. Around 50% of all waste that businesses produce is paper. This is due to factors such as printing errors, disposing of company documents, and throwing away packaging from deliveries. Some of it is unavoidable but other causes like errors can be reduced with effective action.

Households throw away lots of waste paper as well. This includes junk mail, bills and letters, packaging, writing, and drawing paper. Manufacturing paper products also creates some level of waste due to offcuts and trimmings. However, this is normally recycled and reused at the mill to create new paper-based items.

How to reduce paper waste

Paper waste statistics

There are loads of stats and facts about paper waste and recycling out there. To help you see the wood for the trees we've compiled some of the most relevant ones here and filed them under different sections. Explore these general paper waste statistics:

The world produces more than 414 million metric tonnes of paper every year

42% of global wood harvest is used to create paper

About 4 billion trees are cut down for the annual global paper supply

93% of paper comes from trees

24 trees are used to make one tonne of paper

Five litres of water are required to make one sheet of A4 paper

Around 26% of waste in landfill worldwide is paper - despite most paper waste being recyclable

About 50% of business waste is paper products

Producing recycled paper uses 30% less energy than making new paper

Recycling one tonne of paper can save 17 trees

It also saves between 3000 to 4000 kWh of electricityand around 30,000 litres of water - enough to sustain an average three-bedroomed house for a year

Most paper is recyclable between five and seven times

UK paper waste statistics

Paper is a popular product in the UK and the country has a good recycling for it compared to other materials. Understand how much we use and dispose of in businesses and homes across the country with these paper waste facts and statistics for the UK:

10 million tons of paper are used and disposed of in the UK annually

Around 20% of all UK waste is paper

The number of trees needed to create all the paper we use in the UK would cover an area of 21,000 square km - almost the size of Wales

Almost 4 million tonnes of packaging waste in the UK are made from paper and cardboard

8 million tonnes of paper packaging waste are recycled in the UK

According to government statistics, the UK has a recycling rate of 70.6% for paper and cardboard collected from households

It's estimated that around 5 million tonnes of paper end up in UK landfill sites every year

Which countries recycle
the most paper?

Working out which country recycles the most paper isn't straightforward as the materials can overlap with other waste types. For example, packaging waste recycling figures include plenty of paper products. There are also differences between the amount of paper collected and recycled from households and businesses.

Paper is recycled an average of 3.8 times in Europe, which is higher than the global average of 2.4 times. The continent leads the way for paper recycling rates, but the USA isn't far behind as it recycles 68% of waste paper. The countries with the best paper recycling rates are:

Germany - 74%

Sweden - 71%

Norway - 70%

UK - 70%

Japan - 68%

Office paper waste facts

There's been a noticeable decline in printing within offices as we transition to a more digital world, which means less paper is wasted. However, offices are still a big source of waste paper due to printing, photocopying, storing documents, packaging materials, and general daily work. Find out more with these office paper waste facts and stats:

Around 70% of the total waste created by offices is paper

An average office uses 50 sheets of paper a day through unnecessary printing

30% of printed papers in offices are never picked up

About 75% of sheets used in offices end up in the paper recycling bin

Office workers get through around 10,000 sheets of A4 paper every year

One sheet of A4 paper requires five litres of water to produce, which means about 50,000 litres are used by office workers annually just for paper

Offices in the USA get through around 12 trillion sheets of paper annually

Office waste management

School paper waste statistics

Schools across the world are a big source of waste paper. Think of all the exercise books, worksheets, letters, posters, and other resources used in classrooms. At the end of the term or year, most of these are thrown away. Educational establishments still get through mountains of paper even as schools become more tech-focused.

Swot up on these school paper waste statistics to see how much recycling pupils and teachers could do:

At least a quarter of every school bin is filled with paper that can easily be recycled

The average primary school student produces about 45kg of waste paper

Every secondary school student creates around 22kg of paper waste

Schools in the USA use up to 32 billion sheets of paper a year

Around one million sheets of paper are used per school, per year in the UK

About £60,000 is spent on photocopying by schools

One study found 80% of staff working in education admit the sector has the most trouble reducing its paper use

Toilet paper waste facts

Traditional toilet paper was only invented in the late 19 th century in Albany, New York by Seth Wheeler. Since then it's become common in bathrooms across the world. Today it's estimated the average person flushes away the equivalent of 384 trees' worth of toilet paper in their lifetime.

Explore some more toilet paper waste facts:

42 million tons of toilet paper are used globally each year

Across the world, we get through around 184 billion rolls of toilet paper annually

All the toilet paper in the world laid out is roughly 22 billion kilometres long - 50,000 times the Earth's circumference

Around 10% of paper discarded daily is toilet paper

It takes nearly 700g of wood and3 kilowatt/hours (KWh) of electricity to make just one toilet roll

Producing all the toilet paper the world uses requires 712 million trees, 1,165 million tonnes of water, and 78 million tonnes of oil

On average everyone gets through 100 rolls of toilet paper per year - more than 20,000 sheets annually

Americans use the most toilet paper in the world and wipe their way through 34 million rolls a day

Paper waste statistics at home

Households across the UK generate lots of waste paper every day. Most homes can simply place clean and dry paper in their domestic recycling bins. This includes everything from envelopes and leaflets to packaging materials and scrap paper. Discover some fascinating domestic waste paper statistics:

The average family in the UK throws out the equivalent of six trees worth of paper every year

The average person gets through 38kg of newspapers each year

All newspapers produced in the UK are made from 100% recycled paper

4 million tonnes of junk mail go to landfill annually

The UK's third-highest recycling rate is for paper - after metal and glass respectively

How should I get rid
of my waste paper?

You can responsibly get rid of most waste paper at home by placing it in your household recycling bin if it's clean and dry. Most local councils and authorities accept paper in domestic bins, bags, or containers. If you've got lots of scrap paper you can also take it to your nearby household waste recycling centre (HWRC).

Businesses must arrange commercial waste collection of any paper. This involves separating and storing paper away from any other waste materials and booking removal by licensed waste carriers. They'll transport it to a recycling facility for sorting, processing, and recycling.

At Business Waste we can provide free paper bins for your organisation anywhere in the UK - you just pay for collection. You'll receive a free duty of care certificate confirming the safe, legal, and responsible disposal of the paper. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online today for a free no-obligation quote for commercial paper waste collection.

Learn about paper recycling

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More than 400 million metric tons of paper is produced every year but it's not all recycled. Find out more with these paper waste facts and statistics.

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Transforms Paper Waste into Innovative Furniture Solutions

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Transforms Paper Waste into Innovative Furniture Solutions

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FDT Bureau

For years, paper waste has posed a significant challenge across industries and offices, often constituting around 70 per cent of a company's total waste. On average, a single office worker uses approximately 10,000 sheets of paper annually. Design An Mor is delving into the physical and aesthetic aspects of waste paper to harness its potential as a valuable local resource. Their research uncovers fresh avenues for innovative applications, especially in the realm of interior and design materials. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

In collaboration with local partners, Design An Mor engages in the classification, shredding and transformation of waste paper into novel fiber materials. This process operates as a circular cycle, converting waste paper into raw materials and subsequently, finished products. This method ensures that every unnecessary material is repurposed.

The unique aesthetics and qualities of paper materials make them versatile for integration into product designs. Reflecting the diverse nature of paper scraps, each piece of Paper Clay carries echoes of past styles and treatments before recycling, resulting in a distinctive blend of colour, composition and structure.

During their research, the team explored the utilization of locally available minerals and metal oxides in various colours. By employing resources and craftsmanship with minimal ecological impact, the Paper Clay project effectively combines discarded paper with natural materials, culminating in a harmonious collaboration.

Design An Mor addresses the challenge of industrial paper waste by recycling organic materials to create adaptable, versatile modular furniture. Their project Paper Clay explores paper's properties, shaping it into robust composite blocks infused with natural mineral colours, yielding a unique marble effect. These blocks are assembled into modular furniture pieces-tables, shelving, chairs, and stools-offering distinct design and flexibility for homes and offices.

Continuing their exploration of waste paper's potential, Design An Mor collaborates with local partners to create a fiber clay material. This innovative building substance boasts rigid attributes and marbled aesthetics, merging paper scraps with locally sourced minerals. Transformed into small bricks, this waste-turned-material becomes modular furniture, enriching spaces with its unique colour, composition and structure. This circular process aligns with their vision of transforming waste into functional beauty.
Image credit: Design An Mor

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design an mor transforms paper waste into innovative furniture solutions | paper clay

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Design An Mor Transforms Paper Waste into Innovative Furniture Solutions | Paper Clay

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Design An Mor addresses the challenge of industrial paper waste by recycling organic materials to create adaptable, versatile modular furniture.

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In the past, glue was usually homemade and natural. There are so many alternatives to store-bought synthetic glues. You can make homemade natural glue with various natural ingredients like flour, gelatin, egg white, milk and tree resin.

Natural glues have been used for around 200,000 years while synthetic glues have only been used for less than 100 years!

Below are 25 recipes for homemade natural glues: All these glues are perfectly safe for kids and are easy and quick to make at home with kitchen ingredients! But there are also historical glue recipes for special applications, such as DIY water-proof glue and homemade natural super glue.

And by the way, all these homemade natural glues don't go moldy when dried!

Easy No-Cook Flour Glue

Flour glue - also known as wheatpaste - is my favorite homemade glue because it's easy and fast to make! I often use it to stick labels to glass, or to glue paper and cardboard. Wheatpaste has been used since ancient times for book binding, paper mache (e.g. Victorian furniture and dress forms) and to stick posters and wallpaper on walls.

You'll Need:

Instructions

Stir together flour and cold water until thoroughly combined. The mixture should look like thick pancake batter. Let the flour glue stand for about 5 to 10 minutes for the gluten to develop. Then the flour glue is ready for use.

Uses

I've already used this glue for my DIY cookie cutters, DIY candle molds, eco-friendly snowy pine cones, DIY icicle luminaries, pine cones with DIY glass glitter, snowy oil lamps and to stick labels to glass.

Flour Glue Aka Starch Glue

In contrast to the homemade glue above, this flour glue is cooked. You can use all kinds of flour or starch for this non-toxic glue: wheat flour, rice flour, rye flour, corn starch or homemade potato starch. 'Rice flour makes an excellent paste for fine paper work. [...] Rye flour affords a more adhesive paste than starch, but of a grey colour. [...] Rye flour paste [...] is particularly valuable for pasting cloth on wood or leather.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

You'll Need:

flour or starch - wheat flour, rye flour, rice flour, corn starch or potato starch

water

optional: alum

Instructions

'Use a cheap grade of rye or wheat flour, mix thoroughly with cold water to about the consistency of dough, or a little thinner, being careful to remove all lumps; stir in a tablespoonful of powdered alum to a quart of flour, then pour in boiling water, stirring rapidly until the flour is thoroughly cooked. Let this cool before using, and thin with cold water.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

'Corn starch makes a good paste for scrap-books. Dissolve a small quantity in cold water, then cook it thoroughly. Be careful and not get it too thick. When cold it should be thin enough to apply with a brush.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

Tips

'Boiling the paste is very injurious, rendering it less adhesive, and liable to peel off. [...] The addition of a little alum to the water with which paste is prepared renders it more permanent, and the use of boiling lime-water instead of pure water adds to its adhesiveness. [...] By incorporating with the paste a quantity of turpentine, equal in weight to half of the starch employed, and stirring well while the paste is still hot, it will be rendered more impervious to moisture, and at the same time more adhesive.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

Sourdough Glue

This fermented flour glue is stronger than traditional flour glue. It was even used as homemade shoe glue in the past!

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Shoemakers Paste is made by taking barley-meal and, with warm water, mixing into a thick paste. Hot water is added to bring it to the required consistency. It should then be placed in a warm place to ferment, which may be ascertained by the sour smell. This is a tenacious, smooth paste, free from lumps, and is a splendid adherent.' ( The Manufacture Of Boots And Shoes, 1902)

Dextrin Glue

Dextrin glue was the traditional glue for postage stamps. It was also used to glue labels to glass. And it was even used as shoe glue: Dextrin glue 'is very brittle, and, if excessively used, is the cause of broken and blunted needles. To lessen its brittleness, glycerine is sometimes added. Dextrine is more adhesive than flour pastes, and is disliked by vermin.' ( The Manufacture Of Boots And Shoes, 1902)

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Dissolve in hot water a sufficient quantity of dextrine to bring it to the consistency of honey. This forms a strong adhesive paste that will keep a long time unchanged, if the water is not allowed to evaporate.

Sheets of paper may be prepared for extempore labels by coating one side with the paste and allowing it to dry; by slightly wetting the gummed side, the label will adhere to glass.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Hide Glue

In the past, glue was synonymous with hide glue. So if you read 'glue' in an old text - especially in the Victorian and Edwardian era, but also up to the 1920s and 1930s - they probably meant hide glue. Hide glue was the basis of almost all homemade glue recipes with different additives to make the glue water-proof or fire-proof.

Hide glue was used for almost everything in the past: To glue wood furniture parts - hide glue is still used today for restoring antique furniture - to glue down linoleum flooring, to stiffen hats and bodices and to make silk flowers.

'Glue is prepared from waste pieces of skin, horns, hoofs [...] The best glue swells considerably (the more the better) when immersed in cold water, but does not dissolve, and returns to its former size when dry. Inferior glue made from bones, will, however, dissolve almost entirely in cold water. [...] The cohesion of a piece of solid glue, or the force required to separate one square inch, is four thousand pounds.' ( Practical Hints For Furniture Men, 1880)

You'll Need:

1 part hide glue granules

2 parts water

Instructions

Cover hide glue granules with water. Wait for a couple of hours (about 12 hours or longer) until the hide glue has absorbed all water. Now dissolve the hide glue over low heat (or over a water bath). Be careful that it doesn't become too hot. As soon as it's dissolved, the hide glue is ready for use. Hide glue must be applied warm.

'To prepare glue for use it should be broken up into small pieces, and soaked in as much cold water as will cover it, for about twelve hours. It should then be melted in a double glue pot, covered to keep the glue from dirt. Care must be taken to keep the outer vessel full of water so that the glue shall not burn, or be brought to a temperature higher than that of boiling water. The glue is allowed to simmer for two or three hour, then gradually melted, so much hot water being added as will make it liquid enough, just to run off a brush in a continuous stream, without breaking into drops.' ( Practical Hints For Furniture Men, 1880) 'For ordinary purposes it should run freely, and be of the consistency of thin treacle.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol1, 1903)

Tips

'The thinner the layer which is applied the stronger will be the joint, and the less water there is combined with the glue the sooner will it dry [...] Carpenters should remember that fresh glue dries more readily than that which has been once or twice melted. [...]

The glue should be well rubbed in with a stiff brush [...] The hotter the glue the more force it will exert in keeping the joined parts glued together. In all large and long joints it should be applied immediately after boiling. Apply pressure until it is set or hardened. In applying glue, where the part is end grain, first fill the pores of the wood with thin glue, and let dry; then clean off, and glue it at the joint with strong glue.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

'Glues that take the longest to dry are to be preferred to those that dry quickly, the slow drying being always the strongest, other things being equal. [...] In all cases work it well into the wood, in a similar manner to what painters do with paint. Glue both surfaces of the work, except in cases of veneering. Never glue hot wood, as the hot wood will absorb all the water in the glue too suddenly, and leave only a very little residue.' ( Cyclopedia Of Painting, 1908)

'Glue loses much of its strength by frequent re-melting; that glue therefore, which is newly made, is much preferable to that which has been re-boiled.' ( Practical Hints For Furniture Men, 1880) 'Powdered chalk, brick-dust, or saw-dust added to glue, will make it hold with more than ordinary firmness.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol1, 1903)

Gelatin Glue

Gelatin glue is a variant of hide glue. So if you don't have hide glue at home, you can use gelatin instead to make a similar type of glue.

You'll Need:

Instructions

I usually use gelatin sheets but you can use gelatin powder instead. If you use gelatin sheets, soak the sheets in cold water for 5 minutes. Then squeeze out the excess water. Now dissolve the soaked gelatin over low heat. Be careful that it doesn't become too hot. As soon as the gelatin is dissolved, the gelatin glue is ready to use.

If you use gelatin powder, combine 1 part gelatin powder with 3 parts (by weight) water. And dissolve it over low heat.

Uses

I've used this homemade natural glue to glue silk ribbon to the wire stems of my DIY silk flowers.

To glue leather to metal: 'Wash the metal with hot gelatine; steep the leather in an infusion of nut galls (hot) and bring the two together.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

'It has quite recently been discovered that gelatine mixed with glycerine yields a compound liquid when hot, but which solidifies on cooling, and forms a tough, elastic substance, having much the appearance and characteristics of India rubber [...] used for printers' rollers and for buffers of stamps' ( Encyclopedia Of Practical Receipts And Processes, 1872).

Gelatin Glue With Vinegar

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Put a pinch of shredded gelatine into a wide-mouthed bottle; put on it a very little water, and about one-fourth part of glacial acetic acid; put in a well-fitting cork. If the right quantity of water and acid be used, the gelatine will swell up into worm-like pieces, quite elastic, but at the same time, firm enough to be handled comfortably. The acid will make the preparation keep indefinitely.

When required for use, take a small fragment of the swelled gelatine, and warm the end of it in the flame of a match or candle; it will immediately "run" into a fine clear glue, which can be applied at once direct to the article to be mended. The thing is done in half a minute, and is, moreover, done well, for the gelatine so treated makes the very best and finest glue that can be had.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

Gum Arabic Glue

Gum arabic glue was used to glue labels to glass, and to glue leather or oilcloth to tabletops. 'Moisten the leather before applying the paste. [...] When cold, the table or desk top, etc., is covered with a thin coat of the paste, the cloth, etc., carefully laid on and smoothed from the center toward the edges with a rolling pin. The trimming of edges is accomplished when the paste has dried. To smooth out the leather after pasting, a woolen cloth is of the best service.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

You'll Need:

gum arabic (or gum tragacanth)

sugar

water

optional: starch

optional: vinegar

Instructions

'Two parts of gum-arabic, one part of brown sugar ; dissolve in water to the consistency of cream.' ( Farm And Garden Rule-Book, 1911)

Or: 'Finely powdered white sugar, 1 oz.; finely powdered starch, 3 oz.; finely powdered gum arabic, 4 oz. Rub well together in a dry mortar; then little by little add cold water until it is of the thickness of melted glue; put in a wide mouthed bottle and cork closely. The powder, thoroughly ground and mixed, may be kept for any length of time in a wide mouthed bottle, and when wanted a little may be mixed with water with a stiff brush.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

Or: Gum tragacanth glue 'is largely used by shoemakers [...] Equal parts of tragacanth powder and powdered gum arabic, moistened, according to requirements at the time, with dilute acetic acid, or, if the colour will not be of any importance, with ordinary vinegar. This forms a very strong mucilage which keeps well.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

Mastic Glue (Tree Resin Glue)

Mastic is a resin. Mastic glue was used as jewelry glue to glue glass and precious stones to metal: The jewelry is 'warmed gently and the glue applied, which is so very strong that the parts thus cemented never separate.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

You'll Need:

gum mastic (or other tree resin)

alcohol

optional: isinglass

optional: gum galbanum or gum ammoniacum

Instructions

'Dissolve five or six bits of gum mastic, each the size of a large pea, in as much alcohol as will suffice to render it liquid; in another vessel dissolve as much isinglass, previously a little softened in water, (though none of the water must be used,) in good brandy or rum, as will make a two-ounce phial of very strong glue, adding two small bits of gum galbanum, or ammoniacum, which must be rubbed or ground until they are dissolved.

Then mix the whole with a sufficient heat, keep the glue In a phial closely stopped, and when it is to be used set the phial in boiling water. To avoid the cracking of the phial by exposure to such sudden heat, use a thin green glass phial, and hold it in the steam for a few seconds before immersing it in the hot water.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

Or cover tree resin with alcohol. Keep it at room temperature and wait until the tree resin is dissolved. This tree resin glue works well for gluing paper together.

Milk Glue

You can use milk glue aka casein glue to glue paper, cardboard, cork and wood.

You'll Need:

Instructions

Heat the milk in a saucepan. Then stir in vinegar until the milk separates into curds (solid part) and whey (liquid part). Strain it through a kitchen towel or a sieve. Discard the whey (or use it for baking) because you only need the curds (casein) in the towel for your homemade glue.

Now neutralize the curds with baking soda: Just stir in the baking soda and the homemade natural glue is ready. If the glue is too thick, you can thin it with skim milk.

Instead of neutralizing the curds with baking soda, you can also wash the curds in water (similar to washing butter) until it no longer tastes sour.

Egg White Glue

You'll Need:

Tips

'Fresh egg albumen is recommended as a paste for affixing labels on bottles. It is said that labels put on with this substance, and well dried at the time, will not loosen even when bottles are put into water and left there for some time. Albumen, dry, is almost proof against mold or ferments. As to cost, it is but little if any higher than gum arabic, the white of one egg being sufficient to attach at least 100 medium-sized labels.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Flaxseed Glue

Flaxseed glue is similar to flaxseed hair gel.

You'll Need:

Instructions

Combine flaxseeds and water in a saucepan and cook for 5 minutes. Then strain the homemade natural glue through a sieve to remove the flaxseeds. If the flaxseed glue is too thick, you can thin it with hot water.

Casein Glue - Waterproof

Casein glue is traditionally used for woodworking, cardboard crafts, to mend broken china and glass, to glue flooring and to make printing blocks. 'A cheap and excellent cement, insoluble after drying in water, petroleum, oils [...] very hard when dry and of very considerable tensile strength'. ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

And did you know that you can use casein to make your own DIY bioplastic (Galalith)? 'Coagulated casein, when dried, is a hard, horny, yellow solid. It can be so toughened as to resemble celluloid, a state in which it is made into buttons and similar articles.' ( Elements Of The Theory And Practice Of Cookery, 1916)

You'll Need:

Instructions

'First, a tannin solution is prepared either by dissolving a tannin salt, or by extraction from vegetable sources (as barks from certain trees, etc.), to which is added clear lime water (obtained by filtering milk of lime, or by letting the milk stand until the lime subsides) until no further precipitation occurs, and red litmus paper plunged in the fluid is turned blue. The liquid is now separated from its precipitate, either by decantation or otherwise, and the precipitate is dried. [...]

The lime tannate obtained thus is then mixed with casein in proportions running from 1:1 up to 1:10, and the mixture, thoroughly dried, is milled into the consistency of the finest powder. This powder has now only to be mixed with water to be ready for use, the consistency of the preparation depending upon the use to which it is to be put.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Casein Glue 2 Aka Curd Glue

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Add 1/2 pint of vinegar to 1/2 pint skimmed milk; when the curd has settled, pour off the liquid, and wash the curd until free from acid. Add the whites of 5 eggs and beat thoroughly; mix with sufficient finely powdered quicklime to form a paste. This is an excellent cement for mending glass and earthenware. It resists waters and a moderate degree of heat.

The chief cement used in the island of Sumatra is made from the curd of buffalo milk, prepared in the following way. The milk is left to stand till all the butter has collected at the top. The latter is then removed and the thick sour mass left is termed the curd. This is squeezed into cakes and left to dry, by which it becomes as hard as flint. For use, some is scraped off, mixed with quicklime, and moistened with milk. It holds exceedingly well, even in a hot damp climate, and is admirably adapted for mending porcelain vessels.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

DIY Waterproof Glue With Linseed Oil

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Ordinary [hide] glue is kept in water until it swells up without losing its shape. Thus softened it is placed in an iron crucible without adding water; then add linseed oil according to the quantity of the glue and leave this mixture to boil over a slow fire until a gelatinous mass results. Such glue unites materials in a very durable manner. It adheres firmly and hardens quickly. Its chief advantage, however, consists in that it neither absorbs water nor allows it to pass through'. ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

'For a strong glue which will hold in a damp place, the following recipe works well: Take of the best and strongest glue enough to make a pint when melted. Soak this until soft, pour off the water as in ordinary glue-making, and add a little water if the glue is likely to be too thick. When melted add three tablespoon-fuls of boiled linseed oil. Stir frequently, and keep up the heat till the oil disappears, which may take the whole day, and perhaps longer. If necessary, add water to make up for that lost by evaporation. When no more oil is seen, a tablespoonful of whiting is added and thoroughly incorporated with the glue.' ( Cyclopedia Of Painting, 1908)

Pitch Aka Pine Resin Glue

Pitch is the oldest known glue: Since 200,000 BC pitch has been used to glue weapon and tool parts together. And because the glue is waterproof, it was also used to make boats waterproof:

'Pitch, a black resinous substance, commonly known as black pitch, constituting the residuum when the volatile portions of tar are driven off by heat. It is soft and sticky when warm, but becomes solid and brittle when cold. It is one of the products of the pine tree [...] and is largely used in ship building to pay the seams and thus render them impervious to water. For this purpose it is mixed with a small portion of oil, to render it less brittle. [...]

In Europe pitch is manufactured chiefly from the tar produced in northern regions from pinus sylvestris (Linn.) and P. Ledebourii (Endl.) or larix Siberica (Ledeb). These trees form the vast forests of arctic Europe and Asia. The pitch used in this country is all made from the distillation of tar furnished by various species of pine, especially pinus palmtris' ( The American Cyclopaedia, 1873). Pine resin is non-toxic because it was even used as medicine and chewing gum.

You'll Need:

Instructions

'The resin is melted in hot water, and strained through coarse cloths.' ( The American Cyclopaedia, 1873) 'The pieces to be united have to be warmed.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

To make the glue stronger, you can mix 2 parts resin with 1 part charcoal.

DIY Waterproof Glue With Resin

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Dissolve a small quantity of sandarac and mastic in a little alcohol, and add a little turpentine. The solution is boiled in a kettle over the fire, and an equal quantity of a strong hot solution of [hide] glue and isinglass is added. Then filter through a cloth while hot.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Water-Resistant Glue

You'll Need:

2 quarts skim milk

1/2 pound hide glue

Instructions

'To two quarts of skimmed milk add half a pound of the best glue; melt them together, taking care they do not boil over, and you will have a very strong glue, which will resist damp or moisture.' ( Practical Hints For Furniture Men, 1880)

Waterproof Glue With Blood

This waterproof glue was known as 'Chinese cement' or 'Shio-Liao': 'Even baskets made of straw became, by the use of this cement, perfectly serviceable in the transportation of oil. Pasteboard treated therewith receives the appearance and strength of wood. Most of the wooden public buildings of China are painted with schio-liao'. ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

You'll Need:

Instructions

'To three parts of fresh beaten blood are added four parts of slaked lime and a little alum; a thin, pasty mass is produced, which can be used immediately. Objects which are to be made specially water-proof are painted by the Chinese twice, or at the most three times.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

DIY Natural Removable Adhesive Aka Temporary Glue

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Melt yellow beeswax with its weight of turpentine and color with finely powdered Venetian red. When cold it has the hardness of soap, but is easily softened and moulded with the fingers, and for sticking things together temporarily it is invaluable.' ( Industrial Recipes, 1912)

Quick Dry Glue

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Put your glue into a bottle 2/3 full, and fill up with common whisky; cork tight, and set by for 2 or 3 days, and it will dissolve without the application of heat, and will keep for years.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

Natural Flexible Adhesive

You'll Need:

4 ounces starch

2 ounces white dextrin

10 fluidounces cold water

1 ounce borax

3 fluidounces glycerine

64 fluidounces (0.5 gallon) boiling water

Instructions

Stir together starch, dextrine and cold water until dissolved. 'Dissolve the borax in the boiling water; then add the glycerine'. Pour the starch solution into the borax solution. 'Stir until it becomes translucent. This paste will not crack, and, being very pliable, is used for paper, cloth, leather, and other material where flexibility is required.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

DIY Natural Super Glue

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Mix 50 parts, by weight, of fish glue with equal parts of whey and acetic acid. Then add 50 parts, by weight, of garlic in paste form and boil the whole on the water bath. At the same time make a solution of 100 parts, by weight, of gelatin in the same quantity of whey, and mix both liquids. To the whole add, finally, 50 parts, by weight, of 90-per-cent alcohol and, after filtration, a cement is obtained which can be readily applied with a brush and possesses extraordinary binding qualities.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Extend Shelf Life Of Natural Glue

To make homemade natural glue last longer, some add 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon vinegar or 1 teaspoon salt. All these are natural preservatives. In the past, they often used clove oil, camphor, borax, formaldehyde or salicylic acid.

However, I always make DIY glue fresh in the amount that I need. Therefore I make my homemade natural glue without natural preservatives.

'Various antiseptics are employed for the preservation of flour paste, mucilage, etc. Boric and salicylic acids, oil of cloves, oil of sassafras, and solution of formaldehyde are among those which have given best service. A durable starch paste is produced by adding some borax to the water used in making it. A paste from 10 parts (weight) starch to 100 parts (weight) water with 1 per cent borax added will keep many weeks, while without this addition it will sour after six days.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916) 'A few cloves form, perhaps, the best preservative for small quantities.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

'Put a small piece of camphor in the mucilage bottle. Camphor vapors are generated which kill all the bacterial germs that have entered the bottle. The gum maintains its adhesiveness to the last drop.' ( Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916)

Natural Glue With A Long Shelf Life

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Dissolve 4 teaspoonfuls of alum in 1 gal. water; when cold, stir in as much flour as will give it the consistency of thick cream, beat smooth, add 1 teaspoonful of pulverized rosin, and 20 drops oil of cloves, pour the whole into 2 qt. boiling water, stirring thoroughly until it is cooked; pour into a glazed earthen vessel, and when cold cover the top with oiled silk, and put it in a cool place; when needed for use, take out a portion and soften with warm water. This will be found very convenient for use at times when very little paste is required at once.' ( American Library Edition Of Workshop Receipts Vol2, 1903)

Portable Glue

You'll Need:

Instructions

'Boil one pound of the best glue, strain it very clear; boil also four ounces of isinglass; put it into a double glue-pot, with half a pound of fine brown sugar, and boil it pretty thick; then pour it into plates or moulds. When cold you may cut and dry them for the pocket. This glue [...] immediately dilutes in warm water, and fastens the paper without the process of dampening: or, it may be used by softening it in the mouth, and applying it to the paper.' ( Practical Hints For Furniture Men, 1880)

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20 Ways To Make Homemade Natural Glue - Sew Historically

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In the past, glue was usually homemade and natural. 25 homemade natural glue recipes made with flour, gelatin, egg white, milk, tree resin, flaxseed ...

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In today's electronic age, people are starting to consider going paperless. But there's still a long way to go before we lose our dependence on this very important human product.

From our newspapers to our paper wrappings, paper is still everywhere and most of them are ending up in our landfills creating a staggering amount of paper waste. There was a time when paper was a rare and precious commodity. Now it fills our planet. It was initially invented as a tool for communication, but today, paper is used more for packaging.

To produce paper takes twice the energy used to produce a plastic bag. Everything takes energy to produce.

In the case of paper, it also involves cutting down trees. Deforestation is one of the main environmental problems we're facing in these times. 42% of all global wood harvest is used to make paper. Is it really worth it to cut down our life saving trees for this product?

Let us share with you these interesting paper waste facts. We are so used to seeing products in their completed form that we seldom think of how they are made and what happens after we dispose of them.

Facts about Paper and Paper Waste

As we speak, more than 199 tons of paper has already been produced (paper production in 15 seconds).

2,700 liters of water is used to make 1 tonne of paper (average for the European industry).

1 sheet of paper requires 2 to 13 liters of water (depending on the mill).

93% of paper comes from trees.

50% of the waste of businesses is composed of paper.

Recycling 1 tonne of paper saves around 1400 liters of oil, 26,500 liters of water and 17 trees.

Packaging makes up one third or more of our trash.

U.S offices use 12.1 trillion sheets of paper a year.

Paper accounts for around 26% of landfill waste and 33% of municipal waste.

With all the paper we waste each year, we can build a 12 foot high wall of paper from New York to California!

Lessening of paper usage was predicted due to the electronic revolution. It didn't happen. Demand for paper is expected to double before 2030.

Every tree produces enough oxygen for 3 people to breathe.

Toilet paper waste

The global consumption of toilet paper is roughly 22 billion kilometers (if laid out) or 42 million tons. All that paper is the same as 50,000 times the circumference of planet Earth. Or a round-trip every 10 minutes.

Environmental Effects of Paper Waste

Deforestation is the primary effect of our mindless use of paper. Conservation groups have made an admirable headway in protecting ecologically rich forests and limiting commercial access. This is great progress for mankind! Just imagine how long a tree will grow to its full size.... We are only just realizing the wasted use of our trees - trees that give off oxygen and protect the planet from further Global Warming.

Paper pollution is another effect of paper waste and it's a serious problem. It is estimated that by 2020, paper mills will be producing 500,000,000 tons of paper and paperboard each year! We obviously need this product and a reduction of use is not in the horizon. Pulp and paper is the 3rd largest industrial polluter of air, water and soil. Chlorine-based bleaches are used during production which results in toxic materials being released into our water, air and soil. When paper rots, it emits methane gas which is 25 times more toxic than CO2.

Environmental consequences of toilet paper waste

Producing 42 million tons of toilet paper requires:

712 million trees

1,165 millions tons of water

78 million tons of oil

10 Easy Ways to Reduce Paper Waste and Pollution

In North America, many paper companies are now modifying their processes to reduce the formation of dioxins. Dioxin is a toxic by-product of the manufacture of paper and it is a carcinogen. We are now seeking renewable sources of paper so we don't have to cut down our beautiful life-giving trees.

What can you do from your end to reduce paper pollution and waste?

1. Recycle all your paper waste.

2. Be a conscious consumer and buy "100% post-consumer waste recycled". Buy recycled paper materials or materials that came from sustainable managed forests.

3. In the office, reuse paper. If you've only used one side for example, collect them instead of throwing them away. You can bind these sheets and make a notebook using the other side. This small effort reduces paper waste by 50%

4. If you already have a scanned copy of a file, don't print it anymore unless really needed.

5. Use email instead of paper when communicating with clients and customers.

6. Reduce the use of paper cups and disposable paper plates by keeping reusable items in the office pantry.

7. Encourage your officemates and friends to recycle their paper by putting them in recycling bins.

8. Insist on "Process Chlorine Free" paper materials.

9. Buy products with the least paper packaging. Encourage businesses that follow environment friendly practices.

10. Take advantage of the latest technologies like tablets, computers and smart phones to keep your files and notes.

As a consumer, the way you use and dispose of paper and other paper products greatly affect our paper waste. These small efforts on your part will be a valuable contribution in the resolution of our pollution problems today.