Acid-free paper is paper that has a neutral or basic pH (7 or
slightly greater) and is lignin- and sulfur-free. Acid-free
paper production neutralizes the acids that occur in wood pulp
to create longer-lasting paper that won’t yellow over time. The
paper itself can last from 500 to 1,000 years, which has made it
appealing to archivists and scrapbookers. The process to make
acid-free paper is significantly more environmentally friendly
than the process to produce standard paper as waste water and
byproducts of the papermaking process can be recycled; energy
can be saved in the drying and refining process; and alkaline
paper can be more easily recycled. However, acid-free paper is
an industry standard now, so don’t choose paper simply because
it’s acid free; choose a paper that is environmentally
responsible in some other way and is acid-free. “Carbon Neutral”
is a term used when referencing offsetting or eliminating those
production processes that release carbon dioxide. Carbon
neutrality, or having a net zero