Oil Palm Fibres as Alternative Resources in the Pulp and Paper Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

The papermaking industry in Malaysia produces paper based on recycled (secondary) fibres, which are found in several resources depending on the price and quality of the fibres. Due to market changes and the scarcity of wood fibre, there has been a recent growth in demand for non-wood fibres in the pulp and paper sector. The palm oil industry produces massive amounts of biomass, including pruned fronds (OPF) and oil palm trunks (OPT) at the plantations and empty fruit bunches (EFB), shells, kernel cake, and mesocarp fibres generated in the mills. These biomass fibres could be used as a partial substitute in papermaking, reduce production costs and support natural biodiversity. This chapter highlights the challenges and potential opportunities in the use of oil palm fibres as substitution material for the pulp and paper industry. The utilisation of oil palm biomass will further demonstrate the industry’s commitment towards environmental sustainability in all areas of operation.