One of the major environmental issues facing kraft pulp mills is the odor produced by the kraft pulping process. Odor is a consequence of using sulphur compounds as cooking chemicals for the wood chips. However, odor can be eliminated by containment, good practice or odor abatement. Two common methods of control for odor emissions in kraft mills are to scrub the emission, using an appropriate chemical, or incinerate the odorous gas.
Pulp and paper industry and global warming
As part of the manufacturing process, pulp and paper mills generate sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, such as dust, soot, and ashes, which is being contained by air treatment processes.
The contribution of the pulp and paper industry to global warming is related to emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels used at non-integrated paper mills, in transportation and chemical recovery processes at kraft pulp mills. Burning of lignin and resins separated from the fiber provides large amounts of bio-energy to the pulping process. Development of new energy recovery processes at kraft pulp mills allows the mill to become a net provider of electric energy to the grid. Good forest management contributes to offset the emissions of greenhouse gases caused by the pulp and paper manufacturing.