10 Interesting Paper Facts That Will Amaze You
- By Andrew Jacobs
- Jul 10, 2013
Our Passion for Paper
Paper holds a special place in our hearts at JAM Paper & Envelope. If you're as fascinated by this versatile material as we are, dive into our curated list of the top 10 interesting facts about paper you probably never knew. Discover intriguing insights, from its ancient beginnings to the astonishing quantity a single tree can produce. Get ready to be surprised and delighted by the world of paper!
1. Beginning around 100 B.C., the Chinese pioneered the invention of paper using hemp. Later, they expanded their methods to include tree bark, bamboo, and various other plant fibers in paper production.
2. The English word "paper" is derived from the Egyptian word "papyrus".
3. Americans use more than 90 million short tons of paper and paperboard every year.
4. Furthermore, over 2 billion books, 350 million magazines, and 24 billion newspapers are published each year in the U.S. alone.
5. Johannes Gutenberg produced the first Bible on parchment, which is made from sheepskin. Remarkably, it took the skins of 300 sheep to complete this pioneering project.
6. Today, we often overlook the ubiquity of paper, but during the American Revolution, it was a scarce resource. Soldiers even resorted to tearing pages from books to use as wadding - a disc of material for packing in guns - for their rifles.
7. One pine tree can produce about 80,500 sheets of paper.
8. The first wedding anniversary is often referred to as the "Paper Anniversary," symbolizing the tradition of exchanging paper-based gifts between spouses.
9. Did you know that our "paper money" isn't actually made of paper? In fact, U.S. paper currency is comprised of 75% cotton and 25% linen.
10. American businesses use enough paper every day to circle the globe 20 times.
So, how did we do?
Were you surprised by some of these facts?
Let us know in the comments below! Also, take a look at some of the facts history by clicking on the links below.
Who invented paper?