Wood chips are applied in various areas, from gardening to energy production. Its use as a ground cover in gardens helps with moisture retention and weed suppression. In industry, they are the raw material for the manufacture of panels, for the production of cellulose and paper and are also used to produce energy from renewable sources.
But what actually is a wood chip, what advantages does this resource have to offer and what are the main types that exist?
Understand all this in this content and discover how this wood product can be an ally in different sectors.
What is a wood chip?
Chip is obtained by chopping logs, branches or leftover wood that has already been processed. It can be produced in different sizes depending on the intended application.
What is a wood chip for?
Wood chips can be used as fuel (biomass), as its calorific value makes it a renewable, sustainable and efficient energy option.
It does not stop there. To manufacture agglomerates, chips are produced in small fragments and, mixed with adhesive resins, are pressed to produce agglomerated wood panels, known as particle board, which are used in furniture production and civil construction.
Furthermore, chips also play an important role in other areas, such as landscaping. As a ground cover, or mulch, they help retain moisture, suppress weeds and enrich the soil as they decompose.
And its relevance, of course, extends to the paper industry. Here, they are essential in the paper manufacturing process, as raw material to obtain cellulose pulp.
Therefore, its application ranges from energy solutions to structural and aesthetic components in various industrial and commercial sectors.
Advantages of wood chips for cellulose and energy production
Speaking more specifically about its use for cellulose and energy production, one of the main advantages is the fact that the chips are sustainable.
This is because this renewable raw material comes from forest management, where trees are continually replanted, ensuring a constant and responsible supply, in addition to capturing CO² from the atmosphere.
By contributing to reducing dependence on non-renewable fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, the use of wood chips favors the transition to cleaner energy sources.
Additionally, when compared to burning coal, the combustion of chips emits smaller amounts of pollutants, such as sulfur and mercury, resulting in a significantly lower environmental impact.
At the forefront of innovation, cellulose produced from wood chips, in addition to being the basis for paper production, allows the creation of innovative bioproducts, including fabrics and bioplastics that are transforming several industrial sectors.
In this way, wood chips represent an advantageous option for energy and cellulose production, combining technological advances with environmental and social responsibility.
Types of Wood Chips
Better understand the types of wood chips that exist:
Type 1: forest sediment chips
Forest sediment chips come from the collection of wood residues that naturally accumulate on forest floors. They usually come in varying sizes and can contain a mix of different types of wood.
Type 2: sawmill chips
Sawmill chips are produced during the sawing process of wood in sawmills. They tend to be more uniform in size and shape due to the mechanical cutting process.
Type 3: log cutting chips
Log cutting chips are generated from the process of chopping wood logs. They can be produced in different particle sizes, meeting international standards and according to the intended market. These are higher quality chips, mainly used in the cellulose industry.
How can Seta help you?
Count on Seta to obtain wood chips from black acacia, eucalyptus and pine logs, with controlled density and standardized sizes. We guarantee that all our chips come from certified reforestation, as well as being produced under a sustainable regime.
Furthermore, our chips are used in the best cellulose plants in the world, with high quality standards and are produced solely from logs. That is, we do not work with chips from sawmills or other sources.
What's more, Seta's main focus is on acquiring the raw materials it uses, from micro and small rural properties, which it promotes through technical assistance, distribution of seedlings and forest inputs. This allows forestry activity to be a permanent source of income for rural producers, helping to maintain their property, and in accordance with the socio-environmental concerns that the company has, which are preserving the environment, producing clean energy and raw materials for the world, generating wealth in the production chain.
We are carbon negative. We reduce the impacts caused by the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Last year, through actions and investments, we stopped emitting 534,288 tCO2e at our Rio Grande/RS unit.
Therefore, Seta is ready to help you integrate this sustainable solution into your production processes, with technical expertise and commitment to sustainable practices, which can never be left aside.
Don’t leave the opportunity to be part of the change towards a greener future until later. Contact us now and discover how our solutions can optimize your operations while taking care of the environment.
Talk to us and answer all your questions about the wood chips we produce, and guarantee the best quality on the market now!
