Ask HN: Does anyone know the core reasons behind the ongoing paper shortage?

4 pointspramaanik2 comments

I've read up the basics, but I don't understand why alternate sources of raw material supply have not come up?

Covid put a lot of pressure on supply, especially toilet paper. For myself covid has been a wake up how much actually comes from China despite round about ways various brands on sale don't clearly disclose where the bulk of what goes into making the product comes from. [Herbicides would be a clear example my way (Australia) ... penny finally dropping why the big brands had been trying to throttle Chinese made glysophate, going as far as to lynch it themselves. Chinese border shut down and I didn't expect any problems, yup near 100% sold here was coming from China - who knew. ]

The other problem is little of the paper manufactures have encouraged alternative crops to use for the pulp and ever perhaps sustainable vegetation to use in the paper making process.

For US specific reasons, the following link [1] expands on Covid and Gas prices.

[1] https://www.phoenixlitho.com/global-paper-shortage-2022-what...

to be frank, it's time people switch to digital. we still need paperbacks, for sure. but we can digitalize pretty much everything else.

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