Environment

    Well-functioning forest ecosystems are essential
    Forests provide society with valuable renewable raw material and therefore play a central role in sustainable development. At the same time, forests are home to plants and animals and provide society with critical ecosystem services. They stabilize our climate, clean the air we breathe, and are essential in the water cycle. 

    In the Swedish forest sector, environmental issues were brought forward with the forest policy bill that was adopted by the Swedish parliament in 1993. With that, the Swedish forest political objective to preserve valuable ecological and social values was given equal weight as the objective of an efficient and sustained timber production. Since then, the basis for nature conservation in the Swedish forestry model is that so called general consideration to natural- and cultural environments shall be taken on all productive forest land. Where natural- or cultural values are significantly high, forest land may be formally protected in the form of for example national parks, nature reserves or, for smaller areas, habitat protection or so called nature conservation agreements. In addition, many forest owners choose to set aside forest areas from timber production on a voluntary basis, without economic compensation by the state.

    Many Swedish forest owners certify their forestry
    In addition to environmental consideration stipulated by the law, many forest owners and forest companies choose to certify their forestry voluntarily. In Sweden, two systems for forest certification are applied: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). The overall aim of both FSC and PEFC is to promote a sustainable and responsible forestry and certify forestry against standards with defined requirements on forest management, environmental- as well as social considerations. Both schemes build on third party auditing to ensure that requirements are met. 

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    SEE MOVIE: Sustainable forestry - the Swedish model

    The film explains how Swedish forestry is governed to be sustainable. Copyright: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
     

    Swedish Forest Agency – on forests and environment in Sweden

     

    Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) - FSC forest certification

     

    Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) - PEFC forest certification

     

    • Metsä Board achieves the highest sustainability rating from EcoVadis

      Publicerad: Tuesday, 28 April, 2020 - 08:52
      Etiketter: Environment
      Metsä Board, the leading European producer of premium fresh fibre paperboards and part of Metsä Group, is proud to have been awarded a Platinum level rating by EcoVadis for the company’s sustainability and corporate social responsibility. With a top score of 82/100 Metsä Board is among the highest 1% of companies assessed in the in the manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard and containers of paper and paperboard industries. / Metsä Board
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    • Södra takes new step to adapt forests to climate change

      Publicerad: Wednesday, 4 December, 2019 - 09:49
      Etiketter: Environment
      Södra is using controlled pollination to breed trees for tomorrow’s forests – a new innovation, where nearly 2 million seedlings are being propagated to produce trees that are healthier and more resilient, with 30 percent faster growth than trees in today’s forests. / Södra
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    • Strongly positive climate-change impact for Södra

      Publicerad: Monday, 2 December, 2019 - 08:59
      Etiketter: Environment
      According to a new report, Södra has a positive impact on global climate change, equivalent to 20 percent of Sweden’s combined emissions of CO₂ equivalents. The measurements are based on the growth rate of forests owned by Södra’s 52,000 members, and the effects of forest products when they are used to replace more emission-intensive products and energy. / Södra
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    • Study confirms 70 % less climate impact from paper packaging

      Publicerad: Thursday, 26 September, 2019 - 14:38
      Etiketter: Environment
      BillerudKorsnäs is offering an innovative paper, FibreForm®, to make laminates for trays used in food packaging. Now, a recent life cycle assessment performed by RISE, Research Institutes of Sweden, shows that a packaging tray made from FibreForm has up to 71% less global warming impact compared to trays made of only plastic. / BillerudKorsnäs
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    • Holmen chooses Green Cargo’s climate-smart trains

      Publicerad: Tuesday, 2 April, 2019 - 13:52
      Etiketter: Environment
      Holmen has taken a new step in its sustainable strategy work. Holmen’s largest forest holdings are located in northern Sweden, while much of its industrial production takes place in the south. To secure its wood supply and add value to its own forest, Holmen is now going to be transporting its wood south on trains from Green Cargo. / Holmen
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    • Nordic cooperation will cope with climate change adaptation

      Publicerad: Monday, 1 April, 2019 - 15:06
      Etiketter: Environment
      The Nordics need to build a powerful front to meet climate change. Primary production in agriculture and forestry are facing new situations that we most effectively meet together. / SNS
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    • Forest use helps to mitigate climate change – exactly how depends on circumstances

      Publicerad: Friday, 22 March, 2019 - 14:52
      Etiketter: Environment
      Canadian forest researcher Werner Kurz says that decreasing fossil emissions is essential in climate change mitigation, also as regards carbon sinks. ‘If the emissions are not decreased and we want to correct that by means of forest carbon sinks, the area needed will be so large as to be practically impossible,’ says Kurz. / Finnish Forest Association
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    • Holmen gets top sustainability rating at every level

      Publicerad: Tuesday, 19 March, 2019 - 10:05
      Etiketter: Environment
      Holmen has secured three new Gold medals in sustainability, with CSR analysis firm EcoVadis placing Holmen’s forestry and paper manufacturing in its highest category. This puts the forest company among the best in the world when it comes to sustainability, with a top rating along the whole production chain – from sustainable forestry to climate-smart products. / Holmen
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    • Research report: Climate Smart Forestry could reduce EU’s climate emissions by 20%

      Publicerad: Friday, 7 December, 2018 - 18:12
      Etiketter: Environment
      By Climate Smart Forestry the researchers mean reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, enhancing forest resilience to climate change and increasing forest productivity and economic welfare based on forestry. At the same time, the carbon storage of forests would remain the same or even increase. / Finnish Forest Association
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    • FinDev Canada and Finnfund sign cooperation agreement

      Publicerad: Wednesday, 17 October, 2018 - 11:19
      Etiketter: Environment
      The Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) of Canada and Finland, FinDev Canada and Finnfund, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster cooperation to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. / Mondovisione
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