And what about Kenaf?
Kenaf, like flax and industrial hemp is a fibrous crop particularly suited for paper-making. Botanically related to cotton and okra, Kenaf grows in Southern states such as Alabama, Florida and Texas where the long growing season, with plenty of rain, helps Kenaf producers obtain maximum yields.
In the 1950s, the Department of Agriculture undertook a study of more than 500 plants to determine the most-promising non-wood plant for use in paper (including printed money). Kenaf eeked out a win in that study. Much like industrial hemp, Kenaf bast and core fibres can also be used in cardboard and other paper products. However, Kenaf enjoys the benefit that most paper mill equipment does not need to be modified. That alone makes it an interesting alternative to wood pulp-based newspaper for mills. Per the University of Wisconsin-Extension:
newspapers made from kenaf pulp have been shown to be brighter and better looking, with better ink laydown, reduced ruboff, richer color photo reproduction and good print contrast. Quality analyses showed kenaf newsprint to have superior tear, tensile and burst ratings.
Like so many other non-wood fibre crops, Kenaf's success is deeply lilnked with local processing options for farmers. Transportation costs of getting the fibre to a processing facility determine the profitability of this crop. However, Kenaf "...plants provide about three-five times more fiber per harvest than southern pine trees, which can take 7-40 years before they can be harvested." At least one paper company --Vision Paper-- has fully embraced Kenaf...their "About" page is worth checking out>. Among other things, it states: "We use the kenaf as our raw material instead of trees. We manufacture pulp and paper, without using any chlorine compounds, and we sell the paper to printers, companies, and organizations nationally."