The Path to Paper Without Wood: Non-Wood Paper Promotion Association, 1993–2007

In 1993, the Non-Wood Paper Promotion Association was established with the goal of reducing dependence on forest resources and utilizing plants other than wood as raw materials for paper. The association’s activities aim to promote paper made from plant fibers such as kenaf, bagasse, and bamboo, thereby fostering the effective use of resources and reducing environmental impact. The association was featured in the 1997 Environmental Business Report as an organization promoting non-wood paper, and this new approach—which does not rely solely on forests for paper raw materials—has garnered significant attention. Subsequently, the association became a registered NPO in 2003 and changed its name to the Non-Wood Green Association in 2007. Currently, the association is advancing research and outreach activities not only for paper but also for the utilization of underutilized plant resources—such as bagasse (sugarcane pulp residue), empty fruit bunches from oil palms, and bamboo—in the production of pulp, containers, and building materials. Non-wood paper, which began with the idea of protecting forests, has since expanded into the concept of a circular economy that transforms waste into resources.