Eucalyptus' pulp
Aracruz also produces and plants thousands of seedlings of the nearly 250 species native to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and its associated ecosystems, in order to recover, enrich and expand the native reserves kept under permanent preservation. In this way, the Company is contributing to the biological and functional balance of its forests. For each 2.3 ha of eucalyptus planted, Aracruz maintains 1 ha of native reserve.
The eucalyptus is a very versatile tree which has many industrial applications. Some species are used to making pulp; from others, essential oils are extracted and used to make cleaning products, foodstuffs, perfumes and medicines.
Its wood can be used to produce boards, stripping, wainscoting, roofing, beams and poles. Other products such as plywood, chipboard and medium density fiberboard can be produced from eucalyptus wood. To explore noble potential uses of eucalyptus, Aracruz has created a subsidiary that developed and produces Lyptus®.
Lyptus® is high-grade hardwood lumber for the furniture and interior design industries in Brazil and abroad.
For further information on our wood products activities click here.
Product
At the beginning, eucalyptus pulp was seen as a secondary fiber, of lower value. But slowly it began to be quite sought after on the part of the paper industry because of the fiber's unique characteristics, which guarantee production of paper with high opacity, softness and good absorption - qualities that are important to tissue, printing and specialty paper manufacturers. See more about eucalyptus fiber properties here.
Pulp is a structural element of all vegetable cells, existing in all forest genus and species. However, the performance of eucalyptus is best for industrial-scale production. The tree produces a greater volume of wood per surface unit, over a short growing cycle. Eucalyptus pulp helped transform Brazil from a net pulp importer into a pulp exporter. Today the nation is the world's major producer of eucalyptus pulp.
