Sustainable Crafts: How to Make Your Own Paper

Written By Emma Calder

Written by Amanda Bradshaw, Sustainability Committee member

Have you ever considered the environmental cost of the paper used in everyday life? From notebooks to packaging, paper production has a significant impact on our planet. 

While Canada leads the way in paper recycling, recovering 70% of its paper and cardboard, paper production from raw materials is primarily sourced from trees but also demands vast amounts of water and energy that generate substantial air pollution, contaminate nearby water systems, and contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions (Kunak, 2024; Dai et al., 2024). 

Even with Canada’s progress— an impressive 66% reduction in pulp and paper mill emissions since 1990— there’s still room to explore more sustainable practices (Two Sides, 2019). By making your own paper from recycled scraps, you can reduce waste, spark creativity, and take a small yet meaningful step toward a more sustainable future.

What are the benefits of using recycled paper?

Environmental Sustainability:

Making your own recycled paper drastically reduces the environmental footprint associated with traditional paper production. 

Water →  Industrial paper manufacturing requires vast amounts of water. Wood pulp is mixed with water in a water-to-paste weight ratio of 100:1– that’s 324L of water to produce 1kg of paper (Kunak, 2024; Environment Canada, 1991)! 

Waste → Each year the number of junk mail delivered alone can be equated to 100 million trees (Concept, 2024). Canadians use 6 million tonnes of paper annually; therefore, paper products make up over ⅓ of Canada’s municipal waste (Celles, 2014).

Fossil Fuels → Paper manufacturing is dependent on fossil fuels. It is the third-largest global consumer of fossil fuels and emits 3.3kg of CO₂ per kg of paper produced (Kunak, 2024). 

Economic Sustainability:

By making your own paper, you participate in a low-cost, high-impact practice that benefits both your wallet and the planet.

Circular Economy → By upcycling resources you already have instead of purchasing new products, homemade paper embodies circular economy principles. This not only reduces consumption and saves money but also promotes resourcefulness and helps to cultivate a mindset of sustainability. 

Social Sustainability:

In a fast-paced world increasingly reliant on mass production, handmade crafts provide a meaningful way to unplug, recharge, and celebrate individual artistry.

Mental Wellness → Crafting paper by hand offers a chance to slow down, embrace creativity, and reconnect with traditional skills. This meditative process promotes mindfulness, encourages patience, and helps you take pride in creating something uniquely yours. 

So how can I make my own paper?

Materials Needed:

To make your own paper you will firstly need to create a frame and sift for the paper (a mould and deckle) in a very simple and straight-forward process. 

Materials for the Mould and Deckle:

  • Two identical picture frames

  • Stapler

  • Mesh fabric

    • Ideally you want to use something that is sturdy with relatively small holes. You could use a window screen, mesh fabric from an old tent, pantyhose or tights, or produce bags (like the ones oranges or onions come in).

    • I opted for a take-out bag made of mesh cloth.

Materials for Paper-Making:

  • Old paper

    • Helpful tip → Construction paper will help add colour to your paper!

  • Water

  • Blender

    • Warning → Your blender will no longer be food safe and can only be used for craft purposes in the future!

    • Alternatively, you can use an old plastic bottle and 2-3 small rocks.

  • Plastic tub or dish pan 

    • I used an old cookie tin.

  • Cotton fabric for the paper to dry on

    • Warning → If using a tea towel, it, too, will no longer be food safe!

    • I used an old beach towel.

  • Sponge

Instructions:

1) Cut or rip your paper into small pieces (1 inch squares will do).

2) Pour boiling water into your container. Let the paper soak overnight.

3) Blend the paper and water mixture to make pulp. Alternatively, you could do as I did and pour the pulp into a plastic water bottle along with 2-3 small rocks then shake until the paper pieces are broken up.

4) Pour the blended up pulp into a tub or container. Add more water to the mixture and stir until fully combined. The higher your water to pulp ratio, the thinner your paper will be.

5) Use your mould and deckle to create sheets. Hold the mould screen side up and place the deckle evenly on top. At a 45º angle, dip the mould and deckle into the pulp and scoop up enough mixture to fully cover the mould screen. 

6) Hold the mould and deckle horizontally to lift out of the pulp mix. Gently shake the screens back and forth to make a uniformly even sheet of paper.

7) Remove the deckle from on top of the mould. Transfer the wet sheet from the mould by placing the mould face down onto an absorbent surface.

8) With the mould laying face down, use a sponge and firmly press onto the back of the screen to absorb any leftover water. Do so until you can slowly lift the edge of the sheet off. 

9) Remove the mould entirely, leaving behind the sheet of paper.

10) Let the paper sheet air dry overnight.

11) For straight-cut edges you can use scissors to even out the sides. You can also leave the sheets as is to celebrate the unique imperfections which give the paper character.

And with that, every sheet you make will tell a story of care for the planet and pride in your own handmade creation. By transforming scraps into something beautiful and useful, you are not only reducing waste but also embracing creativity, mindfulness, and sustainability all at once. 

Sources: 

Emma Calder
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