Turkmenistan has launched the production of stone paper for the first time.  The innovative product is produced by the company Derya Yoly under the Ekoston brand, Turkmenportal.com reports, citing the newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan.

The new facility has a capacity of 5,500 tons of eco-friendly paper per year.  Stone paper is made from calcite and polymers without the addition of plasticizers or other toxic substances.

Unlike traditional wood-based paper, its production does not require tree cutting, water, or result in the emission of pollutants.

The material has unique properties: waterproof, tear-resistant, insect-resistant, and safe for direct contact with food products.  Stone paper is used to make notebooks, albums, envelopes, postcards, printed materials, disposable tableware, and packaging bags.

The environmental friendliness of the material is confirmed by its ability to decompose: when a large amount of inorganic mineral powder is added, the paper decomposes into its constituent elements within 10-12 months under the influence of sunlight and rain.

The Derya Yoly Company noted that it operates in accordance with the import substitution program adopted by the Turkmen government.

Earlier, in February 2021, a stone paper production plant was opened in Uzbekistan. In addition to printed products, it also produces packaging and wallpaper.  At that time, it was reported that there were no similar facilities in the CIS countries.