In the last twenty years the global demand for chemical pulp has risen noticeably. Worldwide, more than 160 million metric tons per year are produced from wood. North America produces more than a third of this. The base products here are primarily pine trees and spruces. The major part of the chemical pulp is produced in integrated mills, i.e., these companies directly use the raw material themselves for their own paper production. Thus pulp producers in the U.S. sell no more than about 15% of their production as market pulp to customers and use the remaining 85% for their own consumption.

Growth engine South America. Things look very different further to the south. The South American region is one of the most important growth markets for the chemical pulp industry and has nearly doubled its share of global production in the past 10 years. There are a multitude of pure pulp mills here that sell their product to the market. More than 90% of the South American chemical pulp is exported, primarily to Europe, China and also North America. One reason for the region’s success is its geographic situation. Pulp production is heavily dependent on local conditions such as climate and soil composition. Both of these factors impact the choice of the type of wood that is planted. South America, especially Brazil, profit from conditions that are very well suited to the cultivation of eucalyptus. Its enormous productivity has given the subcontinent high growth rates in pulp production during the past few years.

Action made transparent. Responsible use of the forest was for a long time a purely national concern. However, this changed at the beginning of the 1990s when the media and environmental organizations began to more precisely examine and critically challenge forest management worldwide. Areas such as the tropical rainforests and Russian and western Canadian forests were appearing in the headlines. At least since this time, environmental aspects have been very close to the top of the agenda in pulp production, and many producers insist on a maximum of transparency. They invest in cultivation of the forests as a renewable and sustainable resource and are very much concerned with maintaining the sensitive ecological balance.

One of the biggest producers of market pulp is the Brazilian company Fibria. With forest ownership of around 1 million hectares – an area almost as large as Hawaii – it has specialized in the cultivation of eucalyptus. The importance of sustainable action becomes clear on all levels at Fibria: There are defined short-term and long-term sustainability goals, a sustainability committee that advises management and also an extensive sustainability report annually, which gives information about all activities in this area.

Mosaic instead of monoculture. Fibria deliberately does not cultivate more than two-thirds of its forest estate, but instead protects the local native forest and thus the diversity of species. Eucalyptus plantations are operated in the remaining area according to the latest findings and the most environmentally friendly methods. Native forest and plantations are mixed and form a kind of mosaic. This type of management provides a viable habitat for a variety of wildlife. In 2012, the company planted almost 70 million seedlings that will not only provide a benefit as a later supply of wood, but also stabilize the soil while they are growing and absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Fibria was thus able to draw an exceedingly positive balance in 2012: The company’s own forests absorbed 3.8 million more tons of CO₂ than the company emitted as a whole.

In order to measure the effects of its own actions and to constantly improve its forest management, Fibria regularly carries out environmental studies. In addition, the local flora and fauna, the soil and the water resources are monitored. The behavior of birds and the number of bird species are taken as the main indicators for the environmental quality of the forests. Various analyses provide information about the composition of the soil and serve as a basis for deciding on the selection of areas to cultivate. Protection of the soil, well-balanced manuring and allowing leaves, twigs and tree bark to act as a protective layer are standard in the work of the plantations. In its own research center, Fibria is working on new types of eucalyptus that reduce the effects of plantation management on the soil and the environment and at the same time increase the yield per hectare.

Fibria’s commitment to sustainable forest management is also confirmed by independent third parties. About 80% of forest stands have FSC or CERFLOR certification. The Forest Stewardship Council, which came into being in 1993, is one of the most important institutions of its kind. The standards it sets for the responsible management of forests are then monitored for adherence by independent examiners. CERFLOR is the Brazilian equivalent.