Kuitupuu

Kuitupuu, translated as pulpwood in English, is a term used in forestry to describe trees and wood designated primarily for pulping in the paper and board industry. It is distinguished from other timber classes such as sawtimber (for structural timber) and energy wood (for bioenergy).

Kuitupuu materials come from a range of species, with coniferous trees such as Scots pine and Norway spruce commonly used in many northern forests. Hardwood species, including birch, may also contribute to certain pulp categories or specialized pulps. The wood chosen for pulp is typically harvested at a smaller diameter than sawtimber, and it is often processed into wood chips or debarked before pulping.

The pulping process can be chemical, such as kraft or sulfite pulping, or mechanical, depending on the desired pulp properties and end products. The resulting pulp serves as the primary raw material for paper, cardboard, and related products, and it may be combined with other inputs to produce different grades of paper.

Forest management for kuitupuu focuses on producing high fiber yield and reliable supply for mills. This usually involves dedicated stands, planned thinning, and rotations designed to optimize fiber production rather than maximum timber size. Sustainability considerations, including responsible harvesting, reforestation, and certification schemes, play an important role in maintaining long-term fiber availability.

Kuitupuu is a core component of the fiber supply chain in many paper industries, linking forest management with industrial pulping and downstream paper production. See also pulpwood and pulping processes.