How can you make paper?

Probably half of the fiber used for cardstock paper today comes from wood that has been purposely harvested. The remaining material comes from wood fiber from sawmills, recycled newspaper, some vegetable matter, and recycled cloth. Coniferous trees, such as spruce and fir, used to be preferred for papermaking because the cellulose fibers in the pulp of these species are longer, therefore making for stronger cardstock paper. These trees are called "softwood" by the cardstock paper industry. Deciduous trees (leafy trees such as poplar and elm) are called "hardwood." Because of increasing demand for cardstock paper, and improvements in pulp processing technology, almost any species of tree can now be harvested for cardstock paper.

Some plants other than trees are suitable for paper-making. In areas without significant forests, bamboo has been used for cardstock paper pulp, as has straw and sugarcane.