Sometimes referred to as padobe, paperadobe, or fibercrete, among others, the basic recipe is paper and water. Most fans of this method also add Portland cement. I'll get a bit into different recipes and uses here in a minute. I think the best description I came across when researching this was "industrial paper mache'". It is a great recycling method. Paper, cardboard, and I've even read about people that throw plastic and other items into the mix. The mix used can be just about as unique as the person who mixes it. Mainly, it depends primarily on what exactly you're doing with it. As just the paper and water, it can be used as insulation or a finishing plaster. If you add the cement, it can form solid bricks, and have load-bearing capabilities to hold a roof.
When the mix has cement, or other non-paper materials, it also dries faster and shrinks less. A simple paper/water mix will shrink by as much as 20%. Add cement, and the shrinkage reduces by 5-10%. It really doesn't sound like much, but it can add up quickly, in work amount and cost. You will have to buy the cement, if you choose to use it. If you choose not to use it, you will have to come up with another method for the load-bearing walls.
The recipe of water, paper and cement, generally has an R value of 2-3 per inch. So if you build a 12" thick wall, you're looking at an R value of roughly 24-36. Pretty good, I'd say. Now, most of that insulation comes from the air pockets that are created as the water evaporates out. That can be affected by anything else you throw in there. Some people will add sand or clay to the mix. This will add weight, make it denser, and add some thermal mass, but cuts down on the insulating value. With the paper, you can also add other fibrous material. After all, it is the fibers and cellulose in the paper that gives it the strength. What you add is up to you. Of course, one of the main considerations you need to make when determining which recipe to use is climate. That will determine how much thermal mass vs insulation you may need.
Being that it is paper, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. It should not be used underground. It will decompose. It is also very susceptible to moisture. So, if you're going to use it as your exterior walls or in a bathroom, kitchen, etc, then some form of water resistant coating, such as lime, will need to be added. And as with other green building methods, it needs a good stemwall at the base to keep the papercrete from soaking up ground moisture.
Papercrete has some great benefits. We've already covered the recycling aspect. But it is also relatively inexpensive, it is light enough for one person to be able to lift and move blocks, and can be easily cut, molded, drilled, or otherwise shaped when using only water, paper, and even cement. It can still be done when adding sand or clay, but it will wear the tools down much faster. It can also be made in blocks, slabs, or even dome forms. It is quite versatile.
It's downside comes in it's lack of water resistance, and the question of whether or not it is truly green. Opponents would say that using the cement is counter-intuitive to being green. But it could be argued that it depends a lot on just how much you are using in comparison to recycled materials. But there's also the question of the paper itself. While recycling it is definitely a good thing, I would suggest to watch just what kind of paper you're using. Some papers use different chemicals both in the ink, glue (in cardboard), and in any additional coatings that are used (ie. to make it glossy). Make sure it's nothing you can't live with having in your walls. Also, if you choose not to use cement, clay, sand or other additives, it increases the papercrete's vulnerability to insects, rodents, and fire.
Papercrete has many possibilities. What you choose to do with it will determine what you put into it. There are many areas where it is now being taken into consideration in building codes and guidelines. It can be as green (or not) as you decide it to be. If this has piqued your interest, here are just a few, of many, sites where you can get more information on the history, techniques, recipes and more from experts and do-it-yourselfer's alike. Happy researching!
http://www.instructables.com/id/I-Love-Papercrete/
http://www.papercrete.com/
http://www.livinginpaper.com/mixes.htm
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/QandA/papercrete/structural.htm
http://www.livinginpaper.com/current.htm
http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/papercrete.htm
http://makepapercrete.com/Houses-Made-From-Papercrete.html
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