French Handmade Paper

After the invention of paper in China the paper making technique slowly spread out to Asia and other countries.The paper spread throughout the Arab world, then travel to Spain in the 12th Century during the Moorish occupation. During this period the Spainards introduced cotton as paper fiber. Later in 1276, paper was introduced in Fabriano, Italy and Germany in 1390. The paper making tradition crossed the German border to France by a crusader while he was imprisoned by the Arabs.

When it comes to handmade French paper designer Richard De Bas has taken the age old craft and has become the most respected designer of the time. His paper has even hangs in fine art galley's around the world, Braque and Picasso works were printed in limited numbers on Richard de Bas. paper. In 1950, Richard de Bas introduced a new range of paper products with inserted petals, ferns and graminaceae. Richard De Bas has changed the paper industry.

French Paper Industry
Over the last ten years from 2004 the apparent consumption of paper and cardboard increased by an average 1.3% per year in France. 55.9% of the French production of paper is exported and 59.2% is met by imports. In 2004, 2.5 million Tons of pulp were produced in France, which represents 62.6% of the total pulp consumption of the French paper industry.

66% of the pulp produced by French paper industry is converted into paper-cardboard at the paper production site. Chemical pulp represents 72.5% of the pulp consumed in France. The production of recycled pulp, made from recovered paper and cardboard, is increasing in France.