The fibre for some 96% of world paper production is obtained from trees
and recycled paper. Only 4% of the total comes from cultivated plants
and agricultural waste, but these are the fibres which have the most
interesting characteristics for handmade paper to be used in artistic
creations.
Paper pulp is obtained from the mechanical and chemical treatment of
plants and wood. Sheets of paper pulp do not need to be heated. They are
ready for grinding and refining.
Paper pulp can be bleached or unbleached: ECF (elemental chlorine free), or TCF (totally chlorine free).
The museum sells sheets of paper pulp in cotton, flax, hemp, abaca, sisal, pine and eucalyptus.