@article{barrios_gonzalez_zabib_marquez_pal_2026, title={Achieving net-zero carbon in the pulp and paper industry: Tackling scope 1, 2, and 3 emission hotspots}, volume={2}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcradv.2026.200318}, DOI={10.1016/j.rcradv.2026.200318}, abstractNote={• Pulp and paper mills generate ∼2 percent of global CO₂ emissions and 6 percent of industrial energy use • Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are mapped across pulp, paper, and board value chains • Decarbonization levers include CHP, recovery boiler optimization, and heat integration • Strategic levers include supplier engagement, circularity, logistics, and green energy adoption • An integrated roadmap links operational and strategic levers to net zero pathways The pulp and paper industry (P&PI) plays a critical role in the global economy, supplying essential products for education, packaging, and hygiene. Despite its importance, the P&PI ranks among the top five energy-intensive industries, consuming nearly 6% of global industrial energy and contributing about 2% of total CO₂ emissions. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the sector’s carbon footprint, focusing on Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions. It highlights the challenges posed by energy-intensive operations and complex value chains, emphasizing the urgency of aligning with global net-zero targets. Opportunities for reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions include innovations in combined heat-and-power (CHP) systems, recovery-boiler optimization, and enhanced process efficiency. Scope 3 emissions, spanning raw-material sourcing, logistics, and product end-of-life, require improved data transparency, supplier engagement, and standardized reporting. Strategies such as automated environmental data management, eco-friendly product design, and circular business models are identified as critical for addressing indirect emissions. The review concludes by outlining a roadmap for decarbonizing the industry through technological innovation, digital traceability, and collaborative industrial ecosystems capable of accelerating the transition toward sustainable, net-zero pulp and paper production.}, journal={Resources Conservation & Recycling Advances}, author={Barrios, Nelson and Gonzalez, María E. and Zabib, Nishme and Marquez, Ronald and Pal, Lokendra}, year={2026}, month={Feb} }
 @article{gonzález_barrios_venditti_pal_2025, title={Advancing sustainability in the U.S. pulp and paper industry: Decarbonization through energy efficiency, electrification, low-carbon fuels, and the social cost of emissions}, volume={522}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146196}, DOI={10.1016/j.jclepro.2025.146196}, abstractNote={The increasing need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial sector requires a clear understanding and effective implementation of decarbonization strategies. The U.S. pulp and paper industry is responsible for 78 million metric tons (MT) of fossil carbon emissions annually across four major mill configurations: virgin integrated, non-integrated, recycle integrated, and virgin-recycle integrated. These mills manufacture diverse products, necessitating specific decarbonization strategies. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of three decarbonization pathways, energy efficiency through improved dewatering, electrification, and low-carbon fuels, tailored to each mill configuration. Distinct energy flows and emission hotspots were identified across environmental scopes: Scope 1 (direct emissions), Scope 2 (purchased electricity), and Scope 3 (external operations). A virgin integrated linerboard mill has the highest fossil fuel share (52 %) in Scope 1, along with 1968 kg CO 2 -eq per MT of biogenic emissions. In contrast, a non-integrated tissue mill shows the highest contribution (40 %) from Scope 2. Switching to 100 % biomass fuel reduces total CO 2 -eq emissions by 48 % in the integrated mill, while biomass-powered gas turbines can achieve a 38 % reduction in the non-integrated mill. Under a green grid scenario, electrification reduces emissions by 61 % in the non-integrated mill and by 52 % in the integrated mill. However, some strategies present trade-offs across other environmental impact categories. Additionally, the social cost, representing the monetized societal damage from CO 2 -eq emissions, was estimated to assess broader implications. Overall, this study recommends case-specific approaches for decarbonizing different mill configurations and highlights the social impact of the evaluated strategies, contributing to the development of a comprehensive strategic roadmap for a more sustainable forest products industry. • Tailored decarbonization strategies for diverse manufacturing operations and process configurations. • Evaluated trade-offs between energy efficiency gains and impacts on the steam-to-power balance in mills. • Enhanced press dewatering and clean electrification reduce emissions across all manufacturing scenarios. • Low-carbon fuel switching and electrification could reduce emissions by up to 48 % and 61 %, respectively. • Social cost-benefit analysis shows ∼3.2 billion annual savings from CO 2 reductions via low-carbon fuel switching.}, journal={Journal of Cleaner Production}, author={González, Maria E. and Barrios, Nelson and Venditti, Richard A. and Pal, Lokendra}, year={2025}, month={Aug} }
 @article{barrios_gonzalez_venditti_pal_2025, title={Synergistic cell-free enzyme cocktails for enhanced fiber matrix development: improving dewatering, strength, and decarbonization in the paper industry}, volume={18}, DOI={10.1186/s13068-025-02646-1}, abstractNote={{"Label"=>"BACKGROUND", "NlmCategory"=>"BACKGROUND"} The pulp and paper industry is under increasing pressure to adopt sustainable solutions that address its substantial energy consumption and environmental impact. One of the most energy-intensive operations is the thermal drying, which presents significant opportunities for efficiency improvements. This study evaluates a cell-free mild enzyme pretreatment, utilizing a cocktail of cellulases and xylanases, combined with cationic starch, to enhance dewatering efficiency and improve paper strength utilizing bleached hardwood pulp fibers. Life cycle and economic analysis were also conducted to quantify the environmental impact and economic benefits, with a particular focus on direct greenhouse gas emissions. Enhanced water removal during pressing can significantly reduce energy consumption during thermal drying, facilitating the decarbonization of the paper industry. {"Label"=>"RESULTS", "NlmCategory"=>"RESULTS"} The cell-free enzyme pretreatment, applied with mild refining and cationic starch, achieved significant improvements in dewatering efficiency and paper strength. The treatment led to an 11% point increase in solids and a 25% improvement in tensile strength. Morphological analyses revealed no changes in fiber length and width; however, reductions in kink and curl indexes indicated enhanced fiber flexibility and bonding potential. Furthermore, the enzyme-starch combination decreased water retention value by 27%, including substantial reductions in bound and hard-to-remove water content. Environmental assessments estimated a 12% reduction in global warming potential (GWP), with the technology yielding net savings of $11.29 per air-dried ton of paper through reduced natural gas consumption. {"Label"=>"CONCLUSIONS", "NlmCategory"=>"CONCLUSIONS"} This study demonstrates the technical feasibility and economic viability of incorporating enzyme and cationic starch treatments into papermaking. The treatment improves paper quality while reducing energy consumption, costs, and carbon emissions. These findings support the broader adoption of enzyme-based innovations for sustainable manufacturing, aligning with decarbonization goals and industry demands for greater efficiency. The results highlight a promising avenue for achieving significant environmental and economic benefits in the pulp and paper sector.}, number={1}, journal={Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts}, author={Barrios, Nelson and Gonzalez, María and Venditti, Richard and Pal, Lokendra}, year={2025}, month={Apr} }
 @article{starkey_gonzalez_jameel_pal_2025, title={Techno-economic analysis of lignin-containing micro- and nano-fibrillated cellulose for lightweight linerboard packaging}, volume={20}, url={https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.20.4.8777-8790}, DOI={10.15376/biores.20.4.8777-8790}, abstractNote={A key challenge for the paper industry in adopting nanocellulose materials is finding the right balance between production costs and the benefits for specific paper grades, given the industry’s variety of products and processes. This study developed the first model to evaluate changes in steam consumption and other process parameters on a paper machine when incorporating lignin-containing micro- and nano-fibrillated cellulose (LMNFC) as a dry-strength additive, as well as its economic effects. Significant operational differences were observed in steam consumption, dissolved solids in the sewer stream, and production rates when implementing LMNFC in different scenarios. Using the assumption that reductions in basis weight frees up enough drying capacity to offset the additional drying requirements of LMNFC, this led to a 15% reduction in manufacturing costs while maintaining paper strength. A capital payback period of five years was estimated for LMNFC production, with a minimum selling price of $243 per ton. It is important to evaluate both process dynamics and dual cost metrics (cost per ton and cost per area), when analyzing the impact of LMNFC on linerboard production. While LMNFC increases the cost per ton, the lower cost per MSF underscores its material efficiency and economic benefits, particularly for lightweight grades.}, number={4}, journal={BioResources}, author={Starkey, Heather and Gonzalez, Maria and Jameel, Hasan and Pal, Lokendra}, year={2025}, month={Aug} }