Swedish wood fibre has an international ecocycle

Of Sweden's production, 70 per cent of sawn wood products and a full 90 per cent of pulp, paper and paperboard are exported. At present the EU's internal market is the largest, but the Swedish forest industry has the benefit of having a worldwide customer base.


This means that Swedish wood fibre is included in global, circular ecocycles. It is therefore important to the forest industry that measures to increase circularity in Sweden and the EU consider the extensive international trade, and today's functioning market for biobased products. Like the climate, circular ecocycles know no national borders.

Fresh fibre and recycled fibre – part of the same ecocycle

It is also important to bear in mind that the fresh raw material and the recycled raw material are equal in a biobased ecocycle. While Sweden adds a large proportion of the fresh fibre, paper and paperboard mills around the world can make recycled fibre part of their production.

Mustering forces around new recycling systems

Another aspect to consider is that new biobased products are constantly being developed. These require support in achieving equally well-functioning circular recycling systems as the ones that already exist for paper packaging. One example is that several Swedish forest industry companies have begun recycling clothes and other textiles. The main challenge here lies in establishing a working collection system, both in Sweden and internationally.