Wood and sustainability

The sustainable Swedish forest

The forest plays a central role in Sweden – we have an affinity with and access to it that few other countries can match. The forest offers us many opportunities and is an invaluable natural resource. Since the 19th century, the forest has also been one of the pillars of the nation’s economy, creating a large number of jobs, often in places with no other industries.

As well as being a renewable resource, the forest also has a unique function as a carbon sink. In a sustainably managed forest, the trees absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide, which remains in place even after harvesting, when the trees become wood products for use in construction. New forest then grows and absorbs more carbon dioxide. The forest and its building products thus play a crucial role in the task of reducing our impact on the climate, also known as our climate footprint.