Pulpwood plays a critical role in the forest economy, particularly for industries relying on wood fibre, but its sheer abundance often means it’s underutilised. This surplus is a missed opportunity, especially given the growing global wood shortage.

Crafted Hardwoods aims to bridge this gap by offering an innovative solution that transforms this abundant resource into high-quality, sustainable timber products.

What is pulpwood?

Timber is generally divided into three categories – sawn timber, veneer, and pulpwood.

Pulpwood is the lowest-grade product among the three, and in most cases, it is the most abundant product in the forest. Traditionally, pulpwood would refer to wood that is made into pulp for papermaking, but it also refers to low-grade or juvenile wood used for wood chips or engineered wood products.

Trees that are too small for saw timber get classified as pulp automatically. Even mature, high-value trees are often sold as pulpwood if their quality is too undesirable. For example, a tree with too many holes, knots and limbs will be unusable for sawn timber but will qualify as pulpwood.

Half of Australia’s forests is pulpwood

On average in Australia, nearly 50% of all trees logged end up classed as low-value pulpwood.

This represents roughly 15-16 million cubic metres of trees per year. And Australia is not an isolated case. In many other countries, it is also common for half of all trees in a forest to go towards pulp uses.

The amount of pulpwood produced by different countries varies greatly. Countries with well-established forests such as Canada and Russia can produce more sawlog and veneer quality timber than countries like Finland, Brazil or Australia. However, even those countries produce millions of cubic metres of pulpwood every year. The United States, for example, produces on average, 180 million cubic metres of pulpwood every year.

With so much pulp in the market, it is crucial to understand this piece of the forest economy, its uses, and how we can utilise it more efficiently.

From pulp to purpose: Rethinking low-grade resources

As global demand for timber continues to rise, the wood shortage has become a pressing issue. Traditional timber sources can’t always keep up with demand, creating bottlenecks for industries relying on high-grade wood. By rethinking how we use pulpwood, we can alleviate some of this pressure. Crafted Hardwoods is stepping up to maximise pulpwood’s potential, developing processes that convert it into versatile, durable wood products suitable for a variety of applications.

While pulpwood has traditionally been viewed as a low-grade option, innovations in wood processing are changing that perspective. Advanced technologies like the one we are using now allow us to enhance juvenile fibres’ properties, making it possible to produce engineered wood products that are as strong and resilient as conventional, mature sawn timber (if not more). Products such as cross-laminated timber (CLT) and laminated veneer lumber (LVL) have paved the way for pulpwood to be used structurally, opening new doors for sustainable construction and timber alternatives.

However, Crafted Hardwoods stands apart from these products by offering appearance-grade timbers that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also formaldehyde-free, making them a safer and more attractive choice in many applications.

Crafted Hardwoods: Shaping the future of sustainable timber

With nearly 50% of logged trees in Australia classed as pulpwood – and similar proportions worldwide –we have a unique opportunity to enhance forest management practices, reduce waste and increase the efficiency of every tree harvested. We are proud to be at the forefront of an innovation that not only supports sustainable forestry, but also ensures a more balanced and resilient timber market.

Our approach combines sustainability with advanced engineering, allowing us to offer high-quality timber products without placing extra strain on forests. By tapping into the abundant supply of pulpwood, Crafted Hardwoods is effectively turning what was once seen as a byproduct into a vital resource for multiple industries that rely on quality timber.

Pulpwood doesn’t have to be the ‘low-grade’ option – it’s a key component in a more sustainable and resilient timber industry. Through thoughtful innovation and strategic use, we can make sure every tree serves its highest purpose, ultimately helping to meet the world’s growing demand for wood, while also preserving our forests.