Green Paper Lowers Costs

Xerox has unveiled a digital printing paper that reportedly uses half as many trees as traditional paper, while lowering the cost to mail printed material.

Xerox High Yield Business Paper was developed by scientists and engineers at the Xerox Media and Compatibles Technology Center, a Webster, N.Y.-based lab devoted to paper innovation. The mechanical fiber paper reportedly overcomes operational problems, such as curling and dust, which can prevent mechanical fiber papers from being used with digital print devices.

High Yield Business Paper uses 90 percent of the tree versus only 45 percent being used to create traditional digital printing paper. It requires less water and chemicals and is produced in a plant using hydroelectricity to partially power the pulping process. This reduces fossil fuel use and results in up to a 75 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The lighter weight of High Yield Business Paper makes it ideal for transactional printers and direct mail centers seeking to reduce shipping costs. A printer who used a carton of the new paper to print and mail 1,000 five-sheet sets of a document would save $80 in mailing costs because of its lighter weight.

Xerox believes print shops will use it to preprint offset shells for transactional documents like invoices, statements and direct mail pieces, then use a digital press to add highlight color or personalized information. The paper can also be used to produce manuals, catalogs and brochures.

Xerox High Yield Business Paper has 10 percent more sheets per pound yet performs like 50 lb. text made by a chemical pulping process. Opacity is equal to that of traditional 60 lb. text.