Believe it or not, the paper we use in our everyday lives once started out as a tree. Many people don't realize that the process of growing a tree, to you buying a notebook at Walmart is one that can take upwards of 20 years. This is why it is important to be aware of the resources going into the final product that we take advantage of everyday. 

The process starts with paper companies that come and cut down the trees they plan to use to make paper. In the past, this has been a very controversial topic because many people assumed that the cutting down of trees was leading to deforestation. But over time,  paper companies have started to be more mindful and resourceful by only cutting down what they need

The wood is then taken to a factory called a Paper mill. This is where the process really begins. The wood gets ground up into chips. The larger wood chips are used for thicker paper and the smaller wood chips are used for weaker paper. 

The cellulose fibers from the wood are then extracted and converted into pulp by large paper machines. The pulp is mixed with water and put into a paper machine, where it is flattened, dried, and cut into sheets and rolls.