To create the pulp that is used when making paper, wood has to be broken down into individual fibres. But first of all, the wood is 'chipped' into tiny pieces, about the size of a 50 cent piece.

So where does the wood used for making woodchips come from?

The wood comes from a number of different places, including:

• wood that is unusable for sawn timber that would otherwise be wasted
• small trees from native forests and plantations that have been 'thinned' (removed to give bigger trees - that will be used for sawlogs - more sunlight and space to grow)
• the bits and pieces left over when logs are cut up at sawmills to make timber products.

What are woodchips used for?

Woodchips are used to make paper for:

• newspapers

• tissues

• packaging e.g. Cornflakes packets

• printing

They are also used to make building board and processed into rayon for clothing.

Hardwood or softwood?

If you want to make good quality writing paper, or paper for magazines and posters, you need to use woodchips that come from eucalypts, or other hardwoods.

Paper made from woodchips that come from pine trees is better for making newspaper, tissues and cardboard.

Softwood fibres are longer and make paper with a higher tearing strength. Hardwoods have shorter, smaller fibres and make papers, the surface of which is better for printing purposes.