Recently, the European Federation of the Paper Industry (Cepi) commissioned a German private research organization nova Institute to conduct a survey of 33 non wood pulp producers in Europe, and found that non wood fibers still have great potential to promote sustainable development in the pulp and paper industry.

This study investigated almost all types of non wood fiber materials used by European non wood pulp producers, including agricultural residues, by-products, and specialized non wood fibers, as well as materials such as straw, linen, and hemp, as well as waste from the textile industry. Through research, it has been found that these non wood fibers can help the pulp and paper industry achieve diversification of fiber raw materials and improve the availability of fibers. In addition, non wood fibers may also become an important driving force for process and product innovation in the papermaking industry in the future, for example, certain specific properties of crop and agricultural residue fibers can be used to develop new biomaterials.

At present, non wood fibers are widely used in Europe, and can be used in the production of tissues, toilet paper, printing paper, cigarette paper, anti-counterfeiting paper, and other special paper and paperboard, including the recently popular food packaging paperboard. This not only makes up for the shortage of raw materials in the papermaking industry, but also helps to improve the recyclability of the agricultural and textile sectors. In the future, European manufacturers will continue to cooperate and develop other uses of non wood fiber materials.

In addition, the study also summarized the potential limitations of non wood pulp, including land use restrictions and policy limitations of relevant management departments. The industrial value chain still needs to be improved.

In response, Cepi stated, “Sustainable management of raw material procurement and high recyclability remain the decisive characteristics of the European paper industry. In the future, non wood fibers will continue to play a role and become important raw materials for paper mills and recycling plants. The paper industry will effectively utilize non wood fiber resources and achieve higher added value.”