Tech vs. Trees: Wood-based natural detergent provides sustainable alternative to traditional cleaners, Trump's executive order to phase out paper checks from federal government, upcycling projects turn wood and paper waste into furniture

April 4, 2025 (Industry Intelligence Inc.) –

A roundup of recent trends pitting technology against the printed word:

Trees: Wood-based natural detergent provides sustainable alternative to traditional cleaners

While chemicals in traditional household detergents can effectively remove stains and clean dishes, they could also damage ecosystems by triggering algal blooms. Researchers from China’s Tianjin University of Science and Technology are addressing the problem by developing a detergent made of cellulose nanofibers from wood combined with zein, a protein derived from corn. The cellulose plays a key role by forming robust emulsions that attract water and diverse stain types. Meanwhile, zein stabilizes the mixture and traps oils, leading to a natural detergent capable of cleaning both dishes and fabrics. While other researchers have tried to create sustainable alternatives to chemicals found in traditional cleaners, such as alkylphenol polyethoxylates and phosphates, those attempts have produced mixed results. In contrast, tests for the cellulose-zein detergent have found that it’s as effective as conventional laundry powder at cleaning tough stains such as ink, chili oil and tomato paste from cotton cloths. Tests were just as effective at removing stains from various dishware materials, including ceramic, stainless steel, glass and plastic, according to an American Chemical Society release on March 21.

Tech: Trump’s executive order phases out paper checks from federal government

From Social Security payments to tax refunds, paper checks issued by the federal government will soon be phased out and available only as electronic payments. President Trump signed an Executive Order mandating the end of paper-based disbursements by Sept. 30, according to a White House release on March 25. This shift affects all federal payments, as agencies will be transitioning to direct deposit, debit/credit card payments, and other electronic funds transfer methods. The paper-check system has resulted in frequent occurrences of lost, stolen or altered payments and has cost taxpayers over $657 million in 2024 alone, according to the White House.

Trees: Upcycling projects turn wood and paper waste into furniture

Innovative upcycling projects around the world are transforming wood and paper waste into functional, artistic furniture. At Milan Design Week 2025, creative studio EX FIGURA showcased Soft Land, a modular seating installation reimagined from discarded paper, Design Boom reported April 2. Using four cubic meters of recovered paper and 100 square meters of recycled rope, the design transforms print media supplied by DS Smith into pillowed furniture, highlighting paper’s untapped potential for sustainable design. Meanwhile, the University of Washington Facilities’ Salvage Wood Program reinvents felled campus trees into sustainable, high-quality lumber for student furniture projects. The program enables design students to repurpose elm wood—once destined to become mere chips—into heirloom-quality pieces, such as retro-futuristic coffee tables, according to the March 2025 issue of University of Washington Magazine.