Wood-free paper products

Wood-free paper products, despite their name, are not actually free of wood.
Wood-free paper refers to paper that's made from chemically processed wood pulp rather than mechanical wood pulp.

The wood-free "term":

The term "wood-free" is actually a bit misleading, it be called "lignin-free" paper, since the chemical process removes the lignin from the wood, but the paper is still made from wood fibers.

Chemical Process (Wood-free paper):

The wood is broken down using chemicals to remove lignin (natural "glue" that holds wood fibers together).

This creates the following:

- Clearer, purer cellulose fibers
- Results in higher-quality white paper (doesn't yellow)

Commonly used for:

- Office paper, books, magazines, and high-quality papers

Mechanical Process (Wood-containing paper):

- Wood is physically ground into pulp
- Keep the lignin in the paper
- Tends to yellow and become brittle over time

Usually used for: 

- Newspapers, phone books, and cheaper paper products

Benefits of wood-free paper:

- Better durability
- Longer shelf life
- Higher brightness
- Better printing quality
- Less yellowing over time