Richard Phillips

Dr. Richard Phillips is an Adjunct Professor and Executive in Residence in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University's College of Natural Resources. He retired as Senior Vice President-Technology and Manufacturing from International Paper and serves as an on-demand consultant for the forest products industry. Phillips teaches Strategic Business Practices in the Pulp and Paper Industry and provides leadership in the Department.

His expertise spans cost and financial analysis of pulp/paper operations, biorefinery optimization, and lignin valorization. Key research areas include upgrading tissue furnish properties via bio-bulk additives, improving kraft linerboard yield through high kappa pulping, and enhancing bio-based process economics by leveraging lignin-derived products.

Phillips has secured over $1.2M in grants from entities like NCSU, USDA, and industry partners. Notable projects include evaluating bio-bulk's impact on hygiene tissue properties, developing lignin modification techniques for higher yield pulping, and advancing ethanol production from industrial sludges. His work often integrates techno-economic analysis to ensure commercial viability.

• Grants: Over 8 funded projects since 2008 focusing on biofuel economics, biomass pretreatment, and lignin utilization.
• Consulting: Advises the forest products industry and served as a board member for Illim-IP Russia JV.

Phillips' contributions bridge academic research and industrial application, emphasizing scalable solutions for sustainable biomaterials production.