What is Newsprint?
Newsprint is an inexpensive grade of paper used primarily for printing newspapers, although it’s also a common stock used for comic books, trade publications, directories, classified magazines and the like. It is absorbent, not particularly bright (slightly yellowish), and due to its highly acidic nature, it becomes brittle and decomposes quickly. Newsprint is made by mechanically grinding up wood into paper pulp for the paper-making machine (Fourdriner machine) rather than chemically liquefying the wood into pulp. It is cheaper to produce than any other paper that is able to withstand the rigors of offset printing. Newsprint comes in various weights and usually is not printed on the same presses used for higher grades of paper, although the process is the same (non-heatset web offset printing). In fact, newsprint used for newspapers is printed on non-heatset web presses specifically dedicated to this process and able to handle the tabloid size, multiple pages, and folding requirements
We see it every day. We read from it, and use it as table coverings and for murals. What is it? Newsprint! Newsprint refers to the specific type of paper used to publish newspapers. It is thin enough to be economically produced, but thick enough to be printed on both sides. It is a relatively cheap grade of paper, but one whose production is reasonably environmentally sound. Newsprint is produced at mills throughout the world, using very much the same process everywhere. Before recycling was widely practiced, newspaper was made mostly of wood pulp. However, innovative minds have created ways for newsprint mills to manufacture the paper using recycled newspapers and even residual chips, dust and pieces from local sawmills. Many newsprint mills also recycle their water, which makes them less of a burden on the environment. Many people buy “endrolls” of newsprint from the local newspaper office. The pressroom usually has several dozen feet of paper left over after a press run, and selling
