What Are The Common Raw Materials Used For Pulp?

Bagasse pulp is an excellent raw material for molded pulp products. Sugarcane bagasse fibers are widely used in the production of molded pulp tableware and food containers. Bagasse pulp is produced by using sugarcane bagasse as the raw material and converting it into pulp through chemical or biopulping processes. The fibers in bagasse are medium to long in length, offering a good balance of strength and toughness, which makes them one of the most suitable raw materials for molded pulp products at present.

Currently, sugarcane bagasse fibers are predominantly used in the production of disposable food containers and tableware, and are also adopted in certain high-end applications such as mobile phone trays and cosmetic packaging. These regions all have large areas of sugarcane cultivation and numerous sugar mills. With the development of molded pulp technology and its markets, many bagasse pulp producers have started to extend their industrial chains further downstream into the manufacturing of molded pulp products themselves.

Bamboo pulp is an excellent raw material for molded pulp (plant fiber molding) products. Bamboo fiber is classified as a medium-to-long fiber and is mainly used in the production of premium industrial packaging products, with a smaller proportion used in tableware applications. Products made from bamboo pulp generally have high toughness, making them less prone to cracking when forming deep cavities or complex shapes. They also feature smooth and delicate surfaces with relatively high whiteness.

Bamboo pulp is widely used in high-end inner trays for mobile phone packaging, and high-end molded pulp packaging for cosmetic packaging, and is also applied in the production of tableware. For products with complex shapes, small draft angles or small fillet radii, it is generally necessary to incorporate a certain proportion of bamboo pulp in the furnish to improve formability. Since bamboo pulp is relatively scarce and more expensive than bagasse pulp, it is most commonly used in combination with bagasse fibers at specific blending ratios.

Wood pulp–based molded pulp products are mainly made from softwood pulp and hardwood pulp. Softwood pulp fibers are long and slender, and the pulp itself is relatively clean with few impurities. Hardwood pulp fibers, by contrast, are shorter and coarser and typically contain more impurities. As a result, products made from hardwood pulp tend to have lower strength, a looser structure, strong absorbency and higher opacity.

Paper or molded products made from softwood pulp generally exhibit good flexibility, high folding endurance and relatively high tensile strength. Those made from hardwood pulp have higher bulk and stiffness, offering good packaging performance. Therefore, products manufactured from different types of wood pulp will differ in thickness and density. Molded pulp packaging is now widely used for disposable tableware, fruit and vegetable trays, high-end electronics and appliance inserts, precision mechanical part trays, as well as medical and personal care packaging, making it an important choice for brands seeking to upgrade their packaging and enhance their environmental image.

Recycled paper—such as corrugated cardboard, office paper (A4), cartons and newspapers—is the most common and easily accessible raw material for molded pulp products. These materials have a wide range of sources, are supported by relatively mature recycling systems, and typically have lower hygiene requirements, which makes them low-cost and stable in supply. Everyday items like egg trays, fruit trays, cup carriers and inner cushioning packaging for electronic products are generally produced by processing recovered waste paper.

This process makes it possible to effectively utilize large quantities of discarded paper products, turning materials that might otherwise be incinerated or landfilled into useful packaging products. Compared with using virgin wood pulp, this approach significantly reduces dependence on forest timber and lowers production costs, while also decreasing energy consumption and waste emissions, thereby easing the environmental burden.