Safely sourced fiber
Consumers must feel confident that all components of an SCA product and all fiber are derived through responsible forest management. This is the basis of SCA’s target for fiber. SCA’s own forests are cultivated with a focus on biodiversity, and they contribute a valuable, renewable raw material.
Responsible fiber sourcing
Illegal felling is an industry that generates billions. Illegal felling can refer to felling forests without the knowledge or permission of the landowner, felling in areas with high conservation value or felling that breaches the law of the country in question. Irresponsible companies that trade in illegal timber can dump prices since they avoid paying taxes, fees and many other costs.
For SCA, it is therefore of the utmost importance to ensure that the wood raw material used in the company’s operations is not sourced from controversial sources.
Sustainable silviculture
Forests contribute significant value for many stakeholders. They provide habitats for countless species of animals and plants. They serve as a renewable raw material for the forest industry, which creates thousands of jobs. Forests bind CO2 and are one of the most important tools in the world when it comes to eliminating the climate threat. Forests give us the opportunity to enjoy recreational activities, to hunt and fish.
Preserving the biodiversity of our forests is the most important environmental target for the management of our forests, which cover an area nearly the size of Belgium.
TARGET
All fresh wood fiber-based raw material in our products will be FSC® or PEFC™ certified, or fulfill the FSC’s standard for controlled wood.
We will preserve the biodiversity of our forests. A minimum of 5% of our productive forest land will be set aside from forestry in our ecological landscape plans and a further 5% will be set aside as part of our consideration for nature in our managed forests.
OUTCOME 2016
In 2016, 6.5 million tons of fresh fiber was delivered to SCA as wood, pulp, packaging, mother reels and third-party supplied articles. 57% of the fiber was FSC/PEFC certified, 42% fulfilled the standard for controlled wood, and 1% originated from controlled suppliers.
7% of SCA’s productive forest land has been set aside from forestry in the long term in our ecological landscape plans. In 2016, 13% of the area in planned harvesting sites was set aside for preservation.
WITH A NOSE FOR BARK BEETLES
The Alsatian Aska sniffs a tree to investigate whether it has bark beetles.
Dogs and their keen sense of smell can be very useful in the fight against spruce bark beetle and save substantial wood value. SCA employed four-legged partners to help forest owners in Medelpad in Sweden to handle the problem of harmful insects. The beetles live on spruce and often inhabit residual wood but can also affect live spruce trees.
The dogs are from SnifferDogs Sweden. They have been training to recognize the scent of spruce bark beetles and track down affected spruce trees. This means the forest owner can fell the spruce when it is still healthy and be fully paid for it. It also reduces the risk of additional infestations as the beetles are transported in the tree out of the forest and cannot reproduce.
It takes the sniffing dogs about one hour to search through a ten-hectare area, which is far faster than a person can check. The dogs can also find infested areas that are difficult to locate using standard search methods.
VIA highlights valuable forest certification
SCA’s links to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) are strong and we prioritize FSC certification. We play an active role in developing the FSC and finance and participate in the Value and Impact Analysis (VIA), a special evaluation of the FSC. Work began in earnest in 2016.
The aim of VIA is to identify how the FSC’s influence on forestry and people can be measured and how the value of the certification can be communicated in the best way. A number of stakeholders are taking part, including the forest industry, non-profit organizations and researchers.
“It is time for our industry to shift focus from compliance and instead highlight the real advantages with the FSC and responsible forest management,” says Hans Djurberg, Sustainability Director at SCA and a member of the FSC international board. The use of certified fiber has a positive impact on the environment and on people who are dependent on forests. We have a responsibility to communicate this and help consumers make better and more sustainable choices.
SCA hopes that the VIA and the ongoing comprehensive investigation will help us to convey our positive impact on forestry and people through the FSC. It is also satisfying to develop a method that will be used to evaluate other certification systems from a sustainability perspective.
Facts about the FSC
The FSC’s vision is forest management that meets the social, ecological and economic rights and needs of present and future generations.
- More than 190 million hectares of forestland is FSC certified worldwide, distributed across 82 countries.
- In September 2016, a total of 31,000 corporations (in 120 countries) were FSC Chain of Custody certified.
- More than 12 million hectares of forestland in Sweden is FSC certified – about half the productive forest area (September 2016).
Innovative student accommodation on water
In autumn 2016, the first students moved into the floating houses made with wood from SCA.
The design company “Imorgon Innovation” and SCA have created a new type of student accommodation that is located on a floating landing stage in the Port of Sundsvall in Sweden.
A demonstration house was completed in autumn 2016 and the first tenants have moved in. Three students will live in the floating house for one year. They will evaluate the design, functionality and other quality aspects and also share their views on a new way of communal living.
“It feels exciting and luxurious to live like this. You can’t find a better sea view,” says Tove Gulliksson, who was first to move in.
The project is testing new innovative materials. The floating houses are built from wood that has been impregnated with Royal, i.e. treated with linseed oil. This treatment is less of a burden on the environment compared with conventional alternatives. The wood also retains its shape better and splits less, which makes it more durable.
So far, the response has been positive and the plan is to build up to 25 houses in Sundsvall. When finished, the ambition is to spread this way of living to other towns.