Paper Product Containing Mineral Material Which Stimulates Micro-Organism Activity In Naturally Occurring Environmental Conditions

Abstract

A paper product ( 20 ) is provided of at least one sheet of soft degradable paper material at least partially coated or impregnated with a mineral material such as rock dust ( 11 ) in a fine particulate form. The mineral material having characteristics which enhance micro-organism activity at the paper product ( 20 ) at least under some naturally occurring environmental conditions. Seeds ( 12 ) may also be added to the paper product ( 20 ).

1 . A paper product comprising at least one sheet of soft degradable paper material at least partially coated or impregnated with a mineral material in a fine particulate form, the mineral material having characteristics which enhance micro-organism activity at the paper product at least under some naturally occurring environmental conditions. 
     
     
         2 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is impregnated within the paper material, adhered to the paper material or located between two adjacent piles of the paper material. 
     
     
         3 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is in the form of a rock dust. 
     
     
         4 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from at least one igneous rock type. 
     
     
         5 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from at least one of the group comprising basalt, granite and rhyolite. 
     
     
         6 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from at least one metamorphic rock. 
     
     
         7 . A paper product according to  claim 6 , wherein the mineral material is in the form of rock dust and the rock dust is formed from at least one gneiss type rock. 
     
     
         8 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from glacial deposit. 
     
     
         9 . A paper product according to  claim 8 , wherein the mineral material is formed from a glacial moraine. 
     
     
         10 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from at least one sedimentary rock. 
     
     
         11 . A paper product according to any one of  claims 1 , wherein the mineral material is formed from at least one rock from at least two different rock types selected from the group comprising igneous rock, metamorphic rock and sedimentary rock. 
     
     
         12 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material has an average particle size less than about 200 μm. 
     
     
         13 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material has an average particle size less than about 75 μm. 
     
     
         14 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the mineral material has an average particle size less than about 50 μm. 
     
     
         15 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the rock dust has an average particle size of less than about 20 μm. 
     
     
         16 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of paper is formed from a recycled paper material. 
     
     
         17 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of paper is formed from a virgin pulp material. 
     
     
         18 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of paper is formed from a non-bleached material. 
     
     
         19 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more seeds. 
     
     
         20 . A paper product according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of seeds of one or more different plant varieties. 
     
     
         21 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein said seeds are applied to an outer face of said at least one sheet of paper material such that the seeds are held in place without an adhesive. 
     
     
         22 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein said seeds have an average particle size less than about 200 μm. 
     
     
         23 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein said seeds have an average particle size less than about 100 μm. 
     
     
         24 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein said seeds have an average particle size less than about 50 μm. 
     
     
         25 . A paper product according to  claims 19 , wherein said seeds are applied at a rate of up to 10,000 seeds per kilometre of paper. 
     
     
         26 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein 8,000 to 10,000 of said seeds are applied to each kilometre of paper. 
     
     
         27 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein the seeds selected are dependent upon a predetermined geographical area of usage of the paper product. 
     
     
         28 . A paper product according to  claim 19 , wherein the seeds are selected from at least one of the group of seeds of trees selected from  Eucalyptus, Callistemon, Melaleuca, Casuarina, Leptospermum, Bracteantha  and  Kunzea  species. 
     
     
         29 . A method of forming a paper product comprising forming a paper and applying a finely ground mineral material to the paper prior to final drying of the paper, the mineral material having characteristics which enhance micro-organism activity at least under some naturally occurring environmental conditions. 
     
     
         30 . A method of forming a paper product according to  claim 29 , further comprising applying one or more seeds to the paper prior to final drying of the paper. 
     
     
         31 . A method of forming a paper product according to  claim 30 , wherein the seeds are applied to an external face of the paper. 
     
     
         32 . A method of forming a paper product according  claim 30 , wherein the rock dust and the seeds are applied to the paper simultaneously. 
     
     
         33 - 36 . (canceled)