Research Articles

Current carbon footprint tools for the pulp and paper industry focus on conventional wood fibers and overlook alternative biomass and soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. This study developed a software tool for market pulp production comparing conventional eucalyptus and Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) against alternative non-wood fibers (bamboo, switchgrass, sorghum, rice husk, hemp hurd, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, rice straw, banana fiber, and ryegrass straw). The tool models kraft and alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping (APMP), integrates ISO 14040-44 standards, and incorporates SOC sequestration based on cultivar morphology. While applicable to diverse market pulps, tissue production is the primary application. Results identify Brazilian Eucalyptus Kraft (BEK) as the most environmentally favorable option. Specifically, the kraft process delivers lower carbon footprints (504 to 794 kg CO₂eq/ADt) than APMP (1,015 to 1,320 kg CO₂eq/ADt) because lignin combustion provides superior energy self-sufficiency. Energy sources critically affect APMP, with wheat straw ranging from 643 to 1,715 kg CO₂eq/ADt (hydropower versus coal), while NBSK varied minimally (631 to 779 kg CO₂eq/ADt). Across the twelve biomasses, high SOC stabilization factors reduced carbon footprints by up to 86%, while low factors showed less than 1% variation. This tool provides a practical platform for industry decision-making and sustainability education.