Environmental Impact Assessment of Forest Operations and Pulp Manufacture

Wood based sector is receiving special attention due to the environmental consequences derived from activities involved on it. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a holistic and standardized method to evaluate the environmental impacts during the entire life cycle of a product. This chapter is focused on the identification of the environmental impacts derived throughout the life cycle of a specific wood based product, the dissolving pulp, as well as of the key environmental processes involved in its life cycle. The assessment has been performed from the production of the raw materials to the biorefinery gate. The representativeness of an environmental study depends on the quality of inventory data managed. Real data taken in forest plantations and the biorefinery have been considered. According to the results, forest activities related to the production of the raw material played a minor role in the environmental profile. However, the production of chemicals consumed in the biorefinery activities (specifically in cooking and bleaching stages), the treatment of sludge generated in the wastewater treatment plant and the cogeneration unit were identified as key environmental factors. Specific actions associated to the reuse of wastes and improved gas treatment systems would improve the environmental profile of this production activity.