Södra will be supplying CLT (cross-laminated timber) to the “Hoppet” preschool innovation project in Gothenburg. The climate impact of the construction project is 70 percent lower than similar projects of this nature, and is part of the process to achieve the City of Gothenburg’s goal of becoming a climate-neutral city. The preschool is expected to be completed in 2021. / Södra

Ahlstrom-Munksjö increases capacity across its entire protective medical fabrics product portfolio to support the healthcare industry. The exponential spread of the COVID-19 virus around the world has caused an exceptional situation, creating strong demand for healthcare goods in general, and specifically for protective medical products that are made from the company’s fabrics. It is also expanding manufacturing of fabrics production lines normally used for producing other fiber-based materials and providing support with its in-dept knowledge of fiber-based solutions. In the beginning of March, the company expanded the production of face mask materials to a fine fiber line normally used for industrial filtration materials at the Turin plant, Italy. / Ahlstrom-Munksjö

Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) has created an indicator for comparing the different uses of forests. The Forest Indicator rings together such things as biodiversity, ecosystem services and timber production to compare the impact of operations on each. / Finnish Forest Association

Renee Puusepp, a senior researcher at the Faculty of Architecture of the Estonian Academy of Arts is convinced mass customisation leads to the more efficient yet flexible construction of wooden buildings. Standardised modules can be combined in various ways, considering the customer’s needs, neighbourhood and surrounding environment. Engineered wood products like Kerto LVL (laminated veneer lumber) are perfect materials for modular construction, as they make construction fast, light and green. / Metsä Wood