When our timber products end up in permanent buildings and structures, for example, they store carbon for decades or even centuries. The carbon bound in the wood is therefore retained in the timber and forms a long-term carbon storage. Since Finland cannot use all the timber it produces, the surplus timber is exported abroad. In this way, carbon ends up being stored for decades in buildings and furniture, even in countries where local forests are not as efficient at sequestering carbon. Finnish trees that end up as carbon stocks are always replaced by new seedlings, so our operations do not cause deforestation.
In recent years, the main countries exporting sawn timber have been Japan, China and Egypt. In 2023, exports of sawn timber generated export revenues of EUR 1.9 billion for Finland.
The whole log is accurately utilised
The most valuable part of the tree is the sturdy logs, which are used to produce timber. At UPM Timber, the whole log is used efficiently and further processed to a high degree. Nothing goes to waste, as the leftover wood is used to produce pulp, paper, biochemicals, and energy.
But what is the wood left over from sawing used for when the round log is turned into square-edged timber?
The yield of lumber is about 47%, which means that just over two cubic metres of logs are needed to produce one cube of lumber. However, the whole log is carefully utilised in the process, as the logs yield not only sawn timber but also bark, chips and sawdust for reuse. Bark makes up about 10% of the logs and is supplied to thermal plants for the production of electricity and heat. Chips account for about 30% of the logs and sawdust for 10%. The chips are used as raw material for pulp at UPM's pulp mills, while the broke is supplied either as raw material for pulp or to power plants for electricity and heat production.