Newspapers Go Digital, Print Goes…On Your Wall?

Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brasil announced that it will become the first in the country to become 100 percent digital. While it’s a trend American print has already seen – thanks to the iPad and the continued success of online publishing – it got us to thinking about how much newsprint will actually be saved.

Real newsprint strips are handwoven on a loom and then paperbacked to make Newsworthy suitable for the wall. Photo: Weitzner Limited

According to Jornal do Brasil, “For every day that a newspaper such as JB is not printed on paper, 72 trees are kept from being cut down. Given the greater or lesser number of sections during the week, in a year’s time more than 30,000 trees are saved.”

But what about yesterday’s news? We’ve pulled out from our back-pockets these completely un-amateur newsprint designs just for you.

1. Newspaper wallpaper by Weitzner Limited

How is this different from simply tacking up the Arts and Culture section in your kitchen? We thought the same thing when we first heard of newsprint wallpaper concept.

But this design by Weitzner Limited weaves together strips of newsprint to create a pattern that, from a distance, looks similar to grasscloth. One blogger suggests this wallpaper is perhaps a better way to combat the flailing newspaper sales.

2. Holstee recycled newspaper wallet

This was a great little find by one of our dedicated Editorial Interns. Available in blue, purple or gray, this wallet is made from recycled plastic bags and newspapers collected from the streets of Delhi in India.

And we’re always down for a good cause. Your $25 purchase of this wallet helps reduce waste in Delhi, provides fair wage employment and subsidizes healthcare and education for each employee of the family-run nonprofit that creates them.

3. Patricia Zapata’s magazine bowl

The original design concept for this decorative conversation-starter uses magazines, but we think it could also be suitable for newsprint as well (remember those high school art classes with makeshift papier-mâché?).

While the other designs on our list are for sale, you can channel your inner-crafter for this project. But don’t let the minimal amount of supplies fool you – this project is time-consuming, but the outcome is gorgeous, to say the least. Learn how to make it.

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