How is wood made into paper?

In the papermaking process, wood is first chipped into small pieces. Then water and heat, and sometimes chemicals, are added to separate the wood into individual fibers. The fiber is mixed with lots of water (and often recycled fiber), and then this pulp slurry is sprayed onto a huge flat wire screen which is moving very quickly through the paper machine. Water drains out, and the fibers bond together. The web of paper is pressed between rolls which squeeze out more water and press it to make a smooth surface. Heated rollers then dry the paper, and the paper is slit into smaller rolls, and sometimes into sheets, and removed from the paper machine.

Does most of the paper manufactured in the U.S. and Canada come from whole trees?

No. Over half of the raw material used to make paper in the U.S. and Canada comes from recovered paper and the wood waste (such as wood chips and sawdust) left behind from lumber manufacturing.

What is paperboard?

Paperboard is the stiff type of paper often referred to as "cardboard." Paperboard is used in food packaging (such as cereal boxes), and is used to make many other types of products such as shoe boxes, video game boxes, book covers, etc.