The pulp & paper industry is traditionally known to be a large contributor to environmental pollution due to its large consumption of energy and chemicals. Biotechnological methods offer potential opportunities for changing the industry toward more environmentally friendly and efficient operations compared to the conventional methods.

The importance of biotechnology lies in its potential for more specific reactions, less environmentally deleterious processes, energy savings, and capacity to be used in place of non-biological processes.

Increased pulp yield, improved fiber properties, enhanced paper recycling, reduced processing and environmental problems, and energy efficiency are all consequences of biotechnological processes in the pulp and paper industry.