Papier

Papier is a thin sheet material made predominantly from cellulose fibers derived from wood pulp, though it can also be produced from cotton, hemp, recycled paper, or other plant fibers. It is designed to be writable, printable, and durable enough for packaging and everyday use. Its properties—weight, brightness, opacity, and finish—are specified by grammage and production grade.

Originating from ancient papyrus and parchment, true paper was developed in China, where Cai Lun is traditionally credited with improving the papermaking process around the 2nd century CE. Knowledge spread to the Islamic world, then to Europe, culminating in modern mechanized production in the 19th century. Today, paper is made by pulping plant material to separate fibers, refining the pulp, forming a sheet on a moving screen, pressing, and drying. Additives and sizing control water absorption and the surface for writing or printing.

Common types include writing and drawing papers, printing papers, newsprint, packaging board, and specialty papers such as coated or glassine grades. Grammage is the standard measure of weight per square meter (g/m²). Paper sizes follow ISO 216, notably the A-series (A0 to A10), with A4 as a common daily size.

Recycling plays a significant role in many systems, converting post-consumer waste into recyclable pulp for new paper grades. Environmental considerations focus on fiber sourcing, energy and water use, and emissions; sustainable forestry and certifications guide responsible production. Paper remains essential for communication, packaging, and a wide range of industrial applications, even as digital media transform how information is produced and consumed.