Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
org
What is Makigami?
The earth-friendly alternative to plastic.
1
www.OrigamiBonsai.org
Executive Summary
Makigami is a moldable alternative to plastic. It is an earth-friendly, durable paper product,
similar to carbon fiber in the way that paper fibers become aligned (for strength) within the
material. It can be mass produced at low cost. Existing formulations of Makigami are suitable
for products like pens, broom handles, and other common consumer products. it is also a
versatile material which can be woven into panels and then molded into virtually any shape.
As consumer demand shifts to more earth-friendly products, Makigami affords early adopters
access to growing markets.
2
www.OrigamiBonsai.org
What is Makigami?
Makigami literally means "roll-paper" in Japanese and was
invented by Benjamin John Coleman in 2009. Coleman,
creator of the Origami Bonsai art form, needed a material
from which he could create branch assemblies for
sculptures. Over a period of about a year he developed a
technique; saturating strips of newspaper (with a water-
based mixture of ingredients) and then tightly rolling them
into tapered shapes. These shapes were then attached to
molds and allowed to dry. Upon removal from the mold,
the rolled newspaper strips retained their shape. Click the image above to watch video of a strip being rolled.
Why does Makigami seem to be stronger than the paper from which it is
made?
Actually paper is much stronger than you might think. Try pulling apart a piece of paper rather than tearing it. It's very
hard to do, especially if you pull parallel to the grain (longest fibers). The key to the strength of Makigami is the
alignment of paper fibers in the rolling process. Each paper strip is rolled perpendicular to the longest fibers
(perpendicular to the direction that the newspaper tears most easily). During the rolling process, the saturation solution
acts as a lubricant, allowing the newspaper to slide over itself, wrapping into ever tighter tube and then turning it into a
solid shaft of material.
Once a strip has been rolled it can then be molded by attaching it to a cylindrical or other shaped object. Once dry, the
lubricant acts like glue, and the strip becomes hard and will retain its molded shape.
3
www.OrigamiBonsai.org
Is Makigami biodegradable?
Yes, it degrades almost as quickly as paper does.
Is Makigami toxic?
Makigami is made entirely from non-toxic materials, therefore it is non-toxic. In fact,
one formula for Makigami rolling solution includes a common food ingredient.
Is Makigami recyclable?
Yes it can be recycled along with paper in your paper recycling bin.
When energy is taken into account, Makigami stands out as an incredibly efficient
material to make. It doesn't require a furnace for melting or curing (like metals,
ceramics and plastics do), and we don't have to source it from distant locations.
4
www.OrigamiBonsai.org
Ben@Benagami.com
5
www.OrigamiBonsai.org