PAPER TASK FORCE Duke University ** Environmental Defense Fund Johnson & Johnson ** McDonald's The Prudential Insurance Company of America ** Time Inc. TECHNICAL SUPPLEMENT – PART IIIA NON-WOOD FIBER SOURCES Non-Wood Plant Fibers as Alternative Fiber Sources for Papermaking (White Paper 13) July 1996 White Paper 13 was originally printed on paper containing 45% wheat straw, 40% recycled pulp and 15% chalk 1996 Environmental Defense Fund ii TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................1 A. PERSPECTIVES ON USING NON-WOOD FIBERS IN PAPER .............................................................................1 B. SCOPE OF THE PAPER ...................................................................................................................................2 C. STRUCTURE OF THE PAPER...........................................................................................................................3 II. FINDINGS ................................................................................................................................................5 III. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE............................................................................................................9 IV. FIBER ACQUISITION ........................................................................................................................10 A. FIBER TYPES AND YIELD POTENTIAL.........................................................................................................10 B. TECHNICAL ASPECTS .................................................................................................................................13 1. Wheat Straw..........................................................................................................................................13 2. Kenaf.....................................................................................................................................................14 3. Hemp.....................................................................................................................................................15 4. Summary ...............................................................................................................................................15 C. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS .......................................................................................................................15 1. Agricultural Residues ...........................................................................................................................15 2. Annual Fiber Crops ..............................................................................................................................16 3. Summary of Environmental Findings ...................................................................................................27 D. ECONOMIC ASPECTS..................................................................................................................................28 1. Agricultural Residues ...........................................................................................................................29 2. Kenaf and Hemp ...................................................................................................................................30 3. Summary of Economic Findings...........................................................................................................30 V. PULPING ................................................................................................................................................31 A. TECHNICAL ASPECTS.................................................................................................................................31 1. Fiber properties....................................................................................................................................31 2. Pulping processes .................................................................................................................................36 3. Recyclability .........................................................................................................................................40 B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS .......................................................................................................................40 1. Mechanical Pulping..............................................................................................................................41 2. Chemical Pulping .................................................................................................................................41 3. Summary of Environmental Findings ...................................................................................................43 C. ECONOMIC ASPECTS ..................................................................................................................................44 1. Kenaf.....................................................................................................................................................44 2. Cereal Straw .........................................................................................................................................46 3. Non-wood Paper Projects.....................................................................................................................46 4. Summary of Economic Findings...........................................................................................................47 VI. APPENDIX A: REVIEWERS AND INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED..............................................48 VII. APPENDIX B: COMMERCIAL AND RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN NON-WOOD PAPERMAKING .......................................................................................................50 VIII. APPENDIX C: CURRENT USER EXPERIENCES WITH PAPER MADE FROM NON-WOODS AND FUTURE POTENTIAL NON-WOOD PAPER APPLICATIONS......................................................................................................54 IX. APPENDIX D: EXPLANATION OF KEY TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS..................................57 X. APPENDIX E: LIST OF OTHER WHITE PAPERS ............................................................................65 XI. ENDNOTES...........................................................................................................................................67 iii LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1 Overview of non-wood fibers used for papermaking Table 2 Availability of specific non-wood fibers, worldwide and in the United States Table 3 Fiber yields of various non-wood and wood fiber types Table 4 Fiber and pulp yields of nonwood and wood fiber mechanical and reinforcing fibers Table 5 Yield of pulps used in uncoated printing and writing paper Table 6 1995 Wood and non-wood fiber costs in the United States Table 7 Chemical characteristics of fibers used for papermaking Table 8 Physical characteristics of fibers used for papermaking Table 9 Comparison of energy requirements and pulp properties of kenaf and Southern pine in mechanical pulping Table 10 Comparison of energy consumption of softwood bleached kraft and kenaf soda pulping processes Table 11 Effluent flow and quality for kenaf bleached soda pulp and softwood bleached kraft pulp Table 12 Operating costs for kenaf and wood-based bleachedchemical pulp mills in the U.S. South Table 13 Potential nonwood paper applications Figure 1 Burst strength/tear strength matrix of various non-wood and wood fiber types iv I. INTRODUCTION This white paper summarizes the results of the Paper Task Force's research and findings on the potential of using certain fibers other than wood (abbreviated as non-woods) for papermaking. This paper is one element of an extensive research process in support of the Paper Task Force's work to develop recommendations for purchasing "environmentally preferable paper" (paper that reduces environmental impacts and meets business needs). The Paper Task Force members endorse the broad principles set forth by the Task Force’s final report. The findings and research in this White Paper reflects the contribution of Paper Task Force Working Groups and changes made in response to comments received from expert reviewers through the White Paper review process. The contents of this paper do not reflect the policy of individual Task Force member organizations. The study of the potential of non-woods for papermaking is a vast topic: a large number of fibers are potentially suitable for papermaking; many aspects (functional, technical, environmental, economic, social, etc.) may be considered; and different constituencies approach the topic from different points of reference. The scope of this paper, described in more detail below, does not include all of these issues. Compared to wood-based papermaking, the information available on this topic is limited. In the U.S., we only can draw conclusions from a small number of pilot stage projects and an even smaller number of commercial operations. In some cases, the Paper Task Force’s research only raises, rather than answers, questions. In spite of these limitations, we have performed a thorough review of the available information from published articles, and interviews with representatives from the paper industry, the farming industry, academia, and members of the environmental community that focus on non-wood