What is the benefit of eucalyptus over other species in producing pulp?
The main benefit is the reduced area of planted area. One hectare planted with sugarcane, for example, produces 10.6 tons of biomass (derivatives from living organisms used in the production of fuel) a year, whilst one hectare planted with eucalyptus generates 23 to 25 tons of biomass in the same period. So, to produce the same quantity of biomass from sugarcane at least twice the planted area would be needed than for eucalyptus. Furthermore, planting renewable forests contributes to capturing CO2 from the atmosphere. In Brazil wood extracted from planted pine forests is also used as a source of pulp. Pine, however, is more commonly used in the production of long-fiber pulp, which is the raw material used in the manufacture of packaging. Eucalyptus is used to get short fibers, which are used in printing and writing paper.
