New survey shows: Swedes would like to see a national focus on timber construction

More public buildings and housing in timber – even though they cost more. That’s what a lot of Swedes want to see, and a national strategy to increase timber construction in Sweden is now being requested, according to a Novus survey from Södra.

Sweden needs more climate-smart buildings to address both the housing shortage and the climate transition. At the same time, the economic recession could put a damper on housing construction in the coming years, according to the Swedish Board of Housing Building and Planning (Boverket). This would have a negative impact on sustainable construction – in contrast to what Swedes want.

A new Novus survey from Södra shows that Swedes want to see more climate-smart timber construction. Nearly two of three Swedes (64 percent) think their municipality should build climate-smart buildings, such as health centres and schools. More than seven of ten (71 percent) also think that Sweden should continue to invest in more climate-smart materials for construction, even in an economic recession.

“Timber construction is an excellent way to added value to the forest raw material from family forestry and to continue the green transition. Timber can store carbon for a long time, and help to phase out building materials with a heavy carbon footprint. With our cross-laminated timber (CLT) process, we, and the 51,000 members of Södra, can make a contribution by enabling the construction industry and municipalities across the country to continue building high and climate-smart,” said Lotta Lyrå, President of Södra.

Södra’s survey shows: National strategy on the agenda
Södra’s ambition to promote more climate-smart construction also resonates with the general public. Nearly one in two Swedes (49 percent) would prefer their next home to be built mainly with timber, and equally as many (49 percent) would like the government to launch a national policy to increase timber construction in Sweden. Denmark has already adopted a sustainable construction strategy that promotes timber construction and puts a cap on CO₂ emissions, and will apply to all new construction from 2025 and onwards.

“We have to keep the green transition moving and Denmark is showing how that can be done. Sweden has the technology that’s required, but now we need clear political guidance. That would send strong signals to both the business sector and the construction industry and provide a real boost for climate-smart construction,” said Andreas Berge, head of segment for Södra Building Systems and the person responsible for Södra’s timber building systems.

Södra’s CLT can reduce emissions by 80 percent
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is a sustainable alternative to traditional building materials and has rapidly emerged as a substitute and complement to steel and concrete. CLT is made from board lamellas, which are finger-jointed lengthwise and then stacked crosswise in layers. The layers are bonded and then pressed together to form strong and robust panels. The material can be used to construct high-rise buildings, industrial halls and schools in timber, and Södra’s CLT can reduce their carbon footprint by up to 80 percent.

In March, Södra will inaugurate a new CLT facility at Värö with the capacity to supply framing materials for 4,000 homes per year. Södra uses a modern manufacturing process, CNC machining, to achieve extreme accuracy and the elements are cut to shape in the facility according to customer requirements.

Results of Södra’s Novus survey:

• Seven of ten (71 percent) think that Sweden should continue to invest in more climate-smart materials for construction, even in an economic recession.
• Nearly two of three (64 percent) think their municipality should build climate-smart buildings.
• Nearly two of three (64 percent) would like to see their municipality use more climate-smart materials for construction in the future.
• Half (50 percent) would like to see a national strategy to increase timber construction for new housing in Sweden.
• One in two Swedes (49 percent) would prefer their next home to be built mainly with timber.
• Seven of ten (69 percent) would like the timber material to be visible in the building’s construction.
• Four of ten (39 percent) have heard about cross-laminated timber (CLT).

For more information, please contact:

Södra’s Pressroom
Tel: +46 (0)470 890 90
E-mail: press@sodra.com

About the survey
The survey was conducted by Novus on behalf of Södra between 12-18 January 2023, via online interviews with people from Novus’ randomly selected panel in Sweden. The panel guarantees representative results, which means that the results are generalisable to the specific target population. A total of 1,021 interviews were conducted with members of the public (18-79 years of age) in Sweden, with a response rate of 63 percent.

Södra was founded in 1938 on the idea that we are stronger together. We are now the largest forest-owner association in Sweden, with 51,000 family forest owners as members. Together, Södra’s members own a world-leading industry that processes forest raw material into renewable products such as pulp, timber, building systems, liquid bioproducts and energy. About 3,300 people are employed in our forest industry and in 2022, Södra generated sales of SEK 33 billion. Our products are exported all over the world and together, we are contributing to a more natural way of living. Rooted in the forest, we grow the future.

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