Abstract: A process for bleaching wood pulp is provided comprising subjecting the wood pulp, after brown stock washing, to an oxygen delignification stage, a washing sequence, a first chlorine dioxide bleaching stage, an oxidative extraction stage, optionally at least one final chlorine dioxide bleaching stage and then recycling the filtrate from the oxidative extraction stage counter-currently through the bleaching plant and brown stock washing. Additionally, and quite beneficially, the filtrate from the first chlorine dioxide bleaching stage is also recycled counter-currently through the brown stock washing thereby significantly reducing the environmental impact associated with the manufacture of bleach wood pulp.