Wood pulp is a fibrous material used to make paper and various materials. It is created through either mechanical or chemical extractions of wood chips 1. Mechanical pulp is made by grinding wood chips with a revolving grinding stone or by passing chips through a mill, separating and fragmenting the wood fibers to create pulp. Chemical pulp is made by cooking wood chips with chemical solutions in digesters operated at high temperature and pressure, which breaks down the lignin and separates the fibers 2.

Wood pulp can be made from a variety of tree species, including softwoods like pine and hardwoods like eucalyptus. The type of wood used affects the quality and characteristics of the resulting pulp 3.

In addition to paper, wood pulp is used to create a wide range of products, including rayon, cellophane, and various chemicals 4. The production of wood pulp has significant environmental impacts, including deforestation and pollution, making sustainable sourcing and production practices important for minimizing these impacts 5.