Products

Products Available in the Market

Some bath towels are made with rayon, which is produced from the wood component cellulose. Rayon is well suited for use in bath towels because of its high absorbency. Fabrics made with rayon are soft, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat, making them ideal for use in hot and humid climates. They can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton, and linen, and are used in a wide range of products, including clothing, home furnishings, and bedding. Rayon is produced from a type of pulp called dissolving pulp, which is made mainly from cellulose. Cellulose makes up the “skeleton” of all wood fibers and is the most abundant organic polymer on the planet.

Toothpaste can contain several different wood components, including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), also known as cellulose gum, and xylitol. CMC is used primarily because it has a high viscosity, is non-toxic, and is hypoallergenic. It is added to food products as a thickening agent and/or to prevent mixtures from separating during storage in products like dry cake mixes, instant macaroni and cheese dinners, and chewing gums. It is also used in many non-food products, such as toothpaste, laxatives, diet pills, eye drops, water-based paints, and detergents.

Some nail polishes contain the wood component nitrocellulose. Nitrocellulose comes from cellulose and is added to nail polish—as well as leather finishes, wood varnishes, and printing inks—because of its strength and quick-dry properties. Nitrocellulose is produced by exposing cellulose to a powerful nitrating agent like nitric acid. This is done in a highly controlled setting, as nitrocellulose in its pure form is extremely flammable.

Some makeup products contain the wood component carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), also known as cellulose gum. CMC is added to makeups like liquid foundations to ensure that the dissolved components stay dissolved during storage and use. CMC is used primarily because it has a high viscosity, is non-toxic, and is hypoallergenic. These properties make it extremely important in the production of many products, including toothpaste, laxatives, diet pills, water-based paints, and detergents. CMC is manufactured by mixing cellulose with chlorinated acetic acid (acetic acid is the chemical name for vinegar). This makes it soluble and hydrophilic—binding easily with water molecules—and ideal for use in liquids and gels.

Disinfecting wipes are often made of rayon, which is produced from the wood component cellulose, because of its softness and high absorbency. These characteristics allow the rayon sheet to hold a disinfecting liquid while maintaining its texture and shape. Rayon is used in a wide range of other products, including clothing, home furnishings, and bedding. Rayon is produced from a type of pulp called dissolving pulp, which is made mainly from cellulose. Cellulose makes up the “skeleton” of all wood fibers and is the most abundant organic polymer on the planet.

Many of the pills in Canadians’ medicine cabinets contain the wood component microcrystalline cellulose (MCC). MCC is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a carrier. Carriers are inert substances used in pills and tablets to ensure that the active ingredients are effectively delivered to a patient’s body. MCC is used in medications because it compacts well under minimum pressure, easily binds with active ingredients, and creates tablets that are hard and stable but that can be broken down once consumed. Because it is a wood component, MCC is safe for consumption and physiologically inert. MCC is also used in food and cosmetics manufacturing as a texturizing, stabilizing, and thickening agent—for example, in many yogurts and shower gels. MCC is made from high-purity dissolving pulp, a type of pulp made from pure cellulose. Cellulose makes up the “skeleton” of all wood fibers and is the most abundant organic polymer on the planet. MCC is produced by isolating the crystalline portion of the cellulose, hydrolyzing it to achieve a uniform molecular structure, and then drying it.

Some paints contain the wood component hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), a gelling and thickening agent used to match the texture of a liquid product to consumers’ needs. For example, manufacturers use HEC to produce low-spatter paints. HEC is also widely used in cosmetics, adhesives, detergents, and other household products. HEC is produced in a process similar to that used to make carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which is an ingredient in toothpaste and makeup. Like CMC, HEC bonds easily with water, but the strength of the bond is relatively lower, making HEC well suited for making thinner liquids.

The LCD screens of many of today’s electronics contain the wood component cellulose triacetate (TAC). TAC is applied as a layer within these screens and acts as a polarizing film. Both high-purity dissolving pulp and cotton linter are used to make TAC. The chemical composition of TAC makes it possible to apply it in a thin solid film with excellent optical clarity. A similar wood component, cellulose acetate, is used in a variety of products, from cigarette filters to eyeglass frames. Cellulose acetates and cellulose triacetates are made by reacting cellulose with acetic acid (vinegar).

Ping-pong balls are made from the wood component celluloid, a mixture of nitrocellulose (used in nail polish), and the plant-based plasticizer camphor. Celluloid is used in ping-pong balls because it is easily molded and shaped while allowing for the high-bounce property of the balls. Celluloid was originally used as a replacement for ivory in dolls, jewelry, and utensils. Today, its primary uses are in the production of ping-pong balls and guitar picks.

To view more different types of products made out of pulpwood, please see the following attachment:

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Sources

Wood products: Everywhere for everyone. (July 16th, 2020). Government of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/our-natural-resources/forests-forestry/forest-industry-trade/forest-products-applications/non-timber-forest-products/wood-products-everywhere-everyone/13313#top

A Guide to Understanding Toothpaste Ingredients. (2020). Anglea Evanson DDS. Retrieved from: https://www.evansondds.com/a-guide-to-understanding-toothpaste-ingredients/

When Does Makeup Expire?. (2005-2020). Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/does-makeup-expire

Bazaar, H. (June 17th, 2020). The 13 Best Nude Nail Polishes. Bazaar. Retrieved from: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/nails/advice/g3949/best-nude-nail-polishes-0814/

Wire, N. (March 18th, 2020). Don’t flush disinfecting wipes: Even ‘flushable’ ones can clog pipes, officials warn. Fox59. Retrieved from: https://fox59.com/news/coronavirus/dont-flush-disinfecting-wipes-even-flushable-ones-can-clog-pipes-officials-warn/

Yeh, J. (August 5th, 2019). What should you do if your blood pressure medication has been recalled?. Harvard health publishing. Retrieved from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-should-you-do-if-your-blood-pressure-medication-has-been-recalled-2019080517434

Paints. (2020). Koumas Timber. Retrieved from: https://koumas-timber.com/?product=paints

Vello LCD Screen Protector Ultra for Fujifilm X-E3, X-T20, X-T30 & X-T100 Camera. (2000-2020). B&H. Retrieved from: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1210615-REG/vello_gspu_fxt10_lcd_screen_protector_ultra.html

Weweya 100 Pcs 3-Star 40mm 2.8g Table Tennis Balls Ping pong Ball White Orange Pingpong Ball Amateur Advanced Training Ball. (2010-2020). Aliexpress. Retrieved from: https://www.aliexpress.com/i/32817246060.html

Organic and Fairtrade Cotton Bath Towel Set in Alps Grey. (2020). Takasa. Retrieved from:https://www.takasa.co/products/organic-and-fairtrade-cotton-bath-towel-set-alps-grey?variant=31601897373751&currency=CAD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&

um_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&cmp_id=1114685

2443&adg_id=111012570124&kwd=&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAjw5Kv7BRBSEiwAXGDElYd5OwTx-Y4ZW8H0J0xso-SPXm7T2lG9aS6i5-aprs8e3UPDGaDP3BoCNAEQAvD_BwE

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