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Japan's high-level economic growth led
to a rapid increase for the demand for paper. Uneasiness
about the future availability of pulp resources combined
with the optimism regarding the future of petrochemical
industry led to the May 1968 publication of Recommendations
Regarding the Fostering of the Synthetic-Paper Industry
by the Resources Council of the then Science and Technology
Agency of Japan. This paper led to a major synthetic
paper boom among related companies. Several dozen
companies devoted resources to research and development,
designing a variety of production methods. As a result
of these endeavors, six companies began commercial production
of film synthetic paper.
However, the synthetic papers of the early days had
weaknesses in their printing and processing capabilities.
With synthetic papers still being tested for various
applications and not yet having an important place in
the market, the two oil shocks of 1973 and 1979 immediately
changed market conditions. The cost of petrol and petrochemical
products increased considerably and the demand for paper
failed to grow due to economic stagnation. It was a
serious blow to synthetic paper and many companies retreated
from the market.
Having survived such dramatic changes, the synthetic
paper market developed as a few manufacturers in Japan
and the world focused on the development of niche markets
for synthetic paper of greater application and with
unique qualities. Synthetic paper with the properties
of both paper and resin-film material matured as
a product with multiple applications as it gained new
functions, and it came to be known as a material that
could take on some of the roles of high-quality paper.
In recent years it has also been used for applications
that do not involve printing, and it has expanded into
the area of special resin film that does not fit into
the definition of synthetic paper. With the arrival
of new manufacturers into the market, the further development
of synthetic paper is expected. |
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