1998 Papermaking Facts by Ellen McCrady Pulp Mills and Paper Mills Pulp mills make pulp from wood chips, separating the fibers by a grinding process, enzymatic or chemical action, heat or pressure, used either alone or in combination. Afterwards, the pulps intended for use in white papers are transferred to the mill's bleach plant.
Paper mills receive that pulp and make paper out of it.
If they want to make white paper, they generally use white pulp. Sometimes paper mills buy their pulp on the market, and sometimes they get it from a pulp mill located on the same site. Pulping There are two main kinds of pulp, mechanical and chemical. Lignin is deliberately left in this kind of pulp, for economic reasons. Groundwood is made by grinding whole wood logs against a rotating stone.