Beyond the Molecule: Finding the True Beauty in Kraft Lignin
If you’re reading this article, it’s safe to assume you have at least some interest in Kraft lignin. Perhaps you’re an investor or researcher looking for ways to leverage or profit from this natural material. Or maybe you’re a pulp and paper executive trying to decide on building a new lignin plant for a mill. Perhaps you are just curious about this material. If you’ve spent any significant time studying lignin, you’ve almost certainly experienced frustration. That’s part of this lignin journey so many of us are on. In this article, written by a veteran of the kraft lignin business, I can say without hesitation that it may be among the most important you’ll ever read about kraft lignin.
Theologian Jeff Iorg describes three seasons in every leader’s life: learning, leading, and finally, legacy. This article is written from the perspective of the latter. Having spent decades in pulp mills, R&D, and lignin commercialization, I feel compelled to share a key learning from this journey. There are truths worth passing on. It has been a fantastic ride (and it isn’t over yet), but there are truths worth passing on. I know many in this space hesitate to speak candidly about their personal experiences, perhaps because of corporate policy, fear of being ridiculed, or possibly the belief that acknowledging faith is inappropriate in today’s workplace. Let me be clear: those concerns did not deter me from writing this, because I know this message is important. What I share is the truth as I know it, and corporate policies or peer approval played no role. For me, the opportunity to write this article is nothing short of a blessing from God.
Lignin is one of the most studied materials in the world. As the second most abundant biopolymer on earth, it is complex—sometimes exasperatingly so. Differences between tree species, molecular complexity, odor, and the capital costs of extraction have discouraged many. I’ve heard the full range of opinions: from “We don’t want to focus on lignin; pulp and paper is our core business” to “Lignin is the future of our industry.” That range of viewpoints exists today, and I have experienced them firsthand. Yet through all the challenges, I’ve also seen something else: the beauty that kraft lignin and this industry illuminate. But to know that beauty clearly, you must adopt the right perspective.
Cambridge professor John Lennox once posed what he called the “boiling water” question: Why does the water in the kettle boil? Most will reply, “Heat energy from the stove excites water molecules until steam forms.” That’s true, but misses the point. Lennox offers another explanation: “The kettle is boiling because I am making tea.” It is from this latter perspective that one must look to see the beauty in many things, and lignin is no exception.
Looking back, the events I’ve witnessed in this field often feel miraculous. Take, for example, the agreement between Steve Henry of Domtar and Christian Hübsch of UPM. Without that deal in 2021, there might not be Kraft lignin available in the 2025 marketplace. I recall praying over operational challenges, when answers were nowhere in sight, only to have solutions appear in miraculous ways. I think of the people I’ve met on this journey, many of whom have profoundly shaped my life. I recall a corporate cutback that affected me at my longtime employer, which ultimately led me to pursue and earn a doctorate in Biblical Studies. For me, this lignin journey has been nothing short of miraculous—and deeply beautiful.
Almost daily on LinkedIn or elsewhere in the news, I read about new lignin discoveries and innovations. It warms me to see the passion of young engineers and scientists in their seasons of “learning” and “leading.” Yet, with wisdom that comes only from experience, I realize they will face setbacks—failures in the lab, employer cutbacks, health challenges, a backstabbing colleague, financial stresses, and more. These trials are inevitable. But with prayer and faith in God, these scientists and entrepreneurs will hopefully reach the same realization I have: the true beauty of kraft lignin is not in the molecule itself, but in the One who made it.
Dale Mitchell
