Life cycle carbon analysis of packaging products containing purposely grown non-wood fibers, 2023 PEERS Conference

Sustainability is driving innovation in the pulp and paper industry to produce goods with lower carbon footprints. Although most of the efforts are currently focused on increasing energy efficiency or switching to renewable fuels, the attention toward alternative feedstocks has increased in recent years. Claims of non-wood fibers requiring lower use of chemicals and energy than wood fibers, along with negative consumer perception of tree felling, are helping purposely grown non-woods to gain market share. The potential non-wood fiber environmental superiority over virgin or recycled wood fibers remains controversial and is often driven more by emotion and public perception rather than facts. This paper estimates the carbon footprint of corrugating medium and linerboard containing switchgrass pulp compared to analogous wood-based materials. The study includes a life cycle carbon analysis spanning from cradle to gate, which comprises stages for fiber production, pulping, papermaking, and corresponding transportation. For the proposed case study, the results suggest that switchgrass-based medium and linerboard can present a higher carbon footprint than products made from virgin and recycled wood fibers. The main driver is the production of non-wood mechanical pulp. This study was designed to mitigate part of the uncertainty around the environmental sustainability of medium and linerboard made from the selected purposely grown non-wood fibers.

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