How Sveaskog will achieve the environmental goal

In 2009, Sveaskog emitted 71,000 tonnes carbon dioxide. In five years, that amount will be reduced to less than 54,000 tonnes. This will be achieved primarily via more efficient logistics systems, an increased share of rail transportation and as well as new fuels and hybrid engines for both trucks and forest machines.

Compared with 2008, Sveaskog will, in 2015, have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent. This environmental goal has the clearest connection to logistics and transportation.

"Forest machines and timber transportation are our big sources of emission. Combined, they are responsible for 90 percent of our emitted carbon dioxide," says Olof Johansson, Senior Vice President Environment and Sustainable Development.

New fuels are the key

One way to reduce emissions is to move transportation from road to rail. Sveaskog is slowly but surely increasing its share of rail transportation. According to Olof Johansson, this is an important development and it will continue during the next few years. But to reach the environmental goal, trucks and forest machines need to become more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

"We are already using 'ecodriving' (environmentally adapted driving) and reducing transportation through more efficient logistics, increased loads and timber exchange with other companies. But the major breakthrough will come with the new fuels. When eco-diesel is introduced large-scale, things will start to happen," says Olof Johansson.

One example is pine diesel, a renewable, forest-based fuel produced by SunPine in Piteå. SunPine is owned by Sveaskog, Södra, Preem and Kiram. The fuel will be sold on the market by Preem starting in 2011.

"Even hybrid engines with electricity may become important, both for transportation and felling. The upside of this whole development is that it also leads to higher efficiency and the fact that we save money, for example by using less fuel," says Olof Johansson.