http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/9041811/Quite-Interesting-Getting-sheepish.html

The Act of 1666 designed only to promote the wool industry ended
up stimulating the rise of the newspaper industry. People were generally buried
in linen at the time. The statute of 1666 insisted everyone be buried in a
woolen shroud. However, newspapers were made from recycled cloth until about
1870 (hence the use of the word "rag" as a term of derision). By demanding the
use of wool, the Act saved 200,000lbs of linen rags, which were promptly
recycled into the rapidly expanding market for newspapers.

Thanks to Mick Morris.