The Bibliotheca Alexandrina has successfully produced the first archival-quality paper made entirely from locally grown Egyptian cotton, drawing in part on expertise transferred from Italy and Japan.
The paper is intended for the restoration of manuscripts, rare books, maps and historical documents. It has already received Egyptian certification, while international certification is being pursued to enable exports to museums, libraries and conservation institutions worldwide.
According to project officials, production costs have been reduced to around $1 per sheet, compared with approximately $6 for imported archival paper. The initiative is expected to lower Egypt's dependence on foreign supplies while strengthening the country's role in the field of cultural heritage conservation.
From cotton scraps to archival paper
The manufacturing process takes place in one of the Library of Alexandria's laboratories and is based on research and techniques developed in Asia and partly in Italy.
White cotton remnants sourced from textile factories are boiled for two hours before being processed into pulp. The pulp is then manually formed using copper moulds and pressed into sheets of paper.
Unlike ordinary paper, the new product is not intended for printing. Instead, it is designed specifically for delicate conservation work. Its neutral chemical composition and high durability make it particularly suitable for preserving fragile manuscripts over long periods.
Commercial paper, typically made from wood pulp, tends to yellow and deteriorate with age. The cotton-based alternative is significantly more stable and resistant to degradation.
Project born during the pandemic
The idea emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, when disruptions to global supply chains made it difficult to import specialised conservation paper. The shortages led to rising costs and delays in manuscript restoration projects.
Hossam El-Deeb, head of the Restoration and Environmental Control Department at the Library's Manuscripts Centre, said that for decades the production of high-quality conservation paper had been dominated by Japan and Italy.
Japan relied on traditional plants such as kozo, known for producing long, strong fibres, while Italy's expertise was associated with historic manufacturers such as Fabriano, which preserved paper-making techniques over generations.
Egyptian cotton proves ideal
El-Deeb said Egyptian conservators received specialised training in both Japan and Italy before adapting the know-how for use in Alexandria.
Following extensive testing, the team determined that long-staple Egyptian cotton, with fibres measuring between 35 and 45 millimetres, was the most suitable raw material for conservation paper production.
The project uses clean white cotton waste from textile factories, eliminating the need for chemical bleaching and resulting in a paper with a high degree of chemical purity.
The finished material is lightweight, semi-transparent and highly resistant to tearing. It can be integrated into damaged manuscripts during restoration work without leaving visible traces.
Looking to international markets
The paper has already been certified by Egypt's General Authority for Standardization and Quality after exceeding minimum international durability standards for archival paper.
The Library of Alexandria now plans to market the product internationally, supplying museums and cultural institutions around the world.
The long-term goal is to transform Egypt from an importer of specialist conservation materials into a recognised centre of expertise for manuscript preservation and restoration.
Source: CNA / AnsaMed
