Domtar launches antimicrobial office paper, Scranton moans

Narrowly edging out Dunder Mifflin as the "world's first" paper company to deliver antimicrobial office paper to North America, Domtar is ready to crank up the winders in order to deliver its specialized paper to healthcare agencies, educational facilities, and dysfunctional offices everywhere. The paper, which can purportedly be written and printed on without any special accommodations, is coated in a silver compound that protects it from "he growth of bacteria, odors, fungus, mold and mildew." Furthermore, laboratory studies reportedly show a 99-percent reduction of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and K. pneumoniae compared to unshielded sheets, adding to its shelf life and keeping those secretaries free from lingering germs. While we're not exactly certain when reams of this germ-free paper will hit your local Office Depot, we're well on our way to a perfectly sterile office environment -- well, aside from that chewed up pen cap you handle each day.

[Via Wired]

[thomas Leo @ Jan 25th 2007 8:35AM]

why does Scranton moan?

[Michael @ Jan 25th 2007 8:39AM]

I wish some of the women iv slept with where protected from he growth.

[Dan H @ Jan 25th 2007 8:40AM]

Someone obviously doesn't watch The Office.

[Kevin @ Jan 25th 2007 8:41AM]

its a reference to the TV series "The Office"

[Werdna @ Jan 25th 2007 9:00AM]

"he growth of bacteria, odors, fungus, mold and mildew."

so this only works on males?

[teodoro @ Jan 25th 2007 9:13AM]

The aforementioned "healthcare agencies, educational facilities, and dysfunctional offices everywhere" need to just move to pda & electronic data rather than killing more trees.

[Rusty @ Jan 25th 2007 9:59AM]

Oh boy, just what I need.......It's hard enough to get people to use
good quality paper in their office machines, now they are going to be
shoving this crap into a machine. I hope this company takes into account that when you push this paper into a fuser systerm, who's temperature is
usually between 275 to 400 degrees F, that their antimicrobial coating might just be rendered useless?
I'm sure they did, but, I wonder what/if this coating will do to these fuser systems?
Personally, I don't really like the idea of everything being "antibug"
anything to a point. These little critters are there for a reason,
and if you completely rid your body of the natural defenses, then you
get a little bug, your system can't react to it.

[Sleepless in San Antonio @ Jan 25th 2007 11:15AM]

I once new someone that got a paper cut while working in the hospital. She was dead in a week.

[ty @ Jan 25th 2007 11:31AM]

Dwight is going to pissed!

[Jason S @ Jan 25th 2007 12:49PM]

Darn, I wish this was out a few months ago! Since then I have gotten a MRSA abscess in my spinal column which has left me temporarily paralyzed from the arms down.

How the world turns.

[apoch @ Jan 25th 2007 1:01PM]

MRSA is hardly a little bug. It is a hard to treat and potential leathal infection. Especially if it is acquired in the hopsital setting. Anything that helps to decrease the prevalence of it is a good thing. For normal household use, you may be correct in your anti-antibacterial bias, but for hospitals and other clinical settings this could be a good development.

[Mr.Ortiz @ Jan 25th 2007 1:02PM]

" well, aside from that chewed up pen cap you handle each day."

You obviously haven't been keeping up on the latest in antibacterial pen technology.

[Mr.Ortiz @ Jan 25th 2007 1:04PM]

Oops, link stripped. As I was saying, the latest in antibacterial pen technology:
http://www.garrettspecialties.com/pens-highlighters-antibacterial-pens-c-49_896.html

[Matt @ Jan 25th 2007 1:16PM]

They should also note in this article:

"Also prevents werewolf-ism".

I'm sure Underworld fanatics everywhere will be pleased.

[lankysob @ Jan 25th 2007 3:18PM]

But will this paper suitable for sending faxes to myself from the future?

[Charliehorse @ Feb 5th 2007 1:29PM]

Ok, it is coated with a silver solution to prevent microbial growth.

Just what this world needs NON-BIODEGRADABLE PAPER!

Just another little hint, most silver compounds are toxic. This is a lawsuit waiting to happen from communities that wind up with poisoned groundwater.