These days it's all about turning waste into something useful. Gone are the days where animal poop was scooped into plastic bags that eventually ended up in landfills. As we start to realize that being environmentally responsible is going to eventually improve their quality of life as our carbon footprint, businesses are investing in research to turn ecologically beneficial ideas into profit.
One example of this is using elephant poop to create paper products. As the largest land animals in existence, elephants are absolutely fascinating creatures – their ancestors can be traced back 26 million years, they can be found on various continents and female elephants often live their entire lives in the same herd. These big guys have been used in war, in religious ceremonies, as circus animals, for transportation and much more. Now, their poo is being taken from conservation parks and eventually turned into paper products. Here's how you get paper from poop:
1.Elephant poop is collected from conservation parks all over the country.
2.The poop is then rinsed with water leaving only natural fibers from what the elephant has eaten and digested – bamboo, fruits, grass, etc.
3.These fibers are then placed into a pressure pot and boiled to kill any harmful bacteria.
4. Color dye can then be added and all-natural materials may also be combined with the elephant fibers to produce a stronger, thicker product.
5.This pulp is used to make paper, much like any other handmade paper is made. The fibers are spread over a screen, dried and then peeled away to create a sheet of paper!
This creation is much like normal stationery – it doesn't smell and can be written on normally. Elephant poo not only makes great writing paper, it can be transformed into journals, picture frames, photo albums, holiday ornaments, gift boxes and more! What's more is many companies are donating a portion of their profits to the conservation and welfare of endangered elephants.
And elephants are just the top of the proverbial pile. All herbivore animals like cows, horses and pandas are candidates for their poop being processed into paper, while many cities are encouraging dog owners to scoop their pet's poop into a biodegradable bag and throw it in a methane digester. This contraption uses bacteria to decompose the poop and transform it into methane, which is used to power gas street lamps.
So what does the future hold? Daily newspapers made entirely of Dumbo's droppings? Cities run entirely by Fido's feces? Whatever happens, at least you'll still be able to chuckle when you drop Grandma a card in the mail made of poop.
Author Resource:
Ruby Hanno is an expert in all fecal matter pertaining to pachyderms. When not studying the habits and lifestyles of the African Bush Elephant in particular, he can be found sourcing the hottest eco friendly promotional products .
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