VIDA AB, a prominent member of the environmentally conscious Swedish Sawmilling Industry, leaves a negative carbon footprint. Just how positive is that? We calculate that we create a net uptake of carbon and our figures are independently verified. (Our figures are based upon net ecosystem production). Simply put, our growing trees take up more carbon dioxide than our processes release. Throughout Sweden, the source of our timber supplies, five trees are planted for every one that is felled. Even if we calculate this as each felled tree being replaced by only one young sapling that grows to reach its full maturity, then we still leave a negative carbon footprint and remember FIVE are planted. Our logging, production and distribution emit less carbon dioxide than is bound by these growing trees and further; every cubic metre of wood that replaces other construction materials, like steel, reduces carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere by about 1.1 tonnes.

VIDA – MAKING THE DIFFERENCES EVEN BIGGER!
Our transport policy: We are increasingly using trains to move both our raw materials and finished goods. At present, around 25 % of VIDA’s total transport is by rail. For each transported cubic metre, transporting by rail instead of by road a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 3/4 is achieved. We are also reintroducing organic material to the forests as compostable natural fertilizer and we are developing our own energy company; VIDA Energi. This company handles all organic residues from our timber processing and produces emission-neutral energy from this bio-fuel. Besides heating our production plants, this energy is also used to heat many homes in our local area.

VIDA PAPER  – OUR PAPERS ARE ALL “GREEN”
VIDA Paper AB, an integral part of the VIDA group produces graphical paper that whatever the colour of the paper it is guaranteed to be “Green”, some of the greenest production in Europe. How is this achieved? The geographical location at Lessebo guarantees close proximity to raw materials. Raw materials substantially supplied from within the VIDA group, we have our own bio-fueled energy plant and not least by producing wood pulp at the same plant as we manufacture paper so avoiding hauling thousands of tonnes of pulp from around the world. The result is that we leave a markedly negative Carbon footprint. Comparisons show that we are rated as being amongst the best (i.e. most environmentally friendly) in Europe. Please be assured that our calculations have to, and do, include all emissions. This covers everything, all stages of all process from a tree being felled to a finished product leaving the factory gate.

OUR FOOTPRINT DETAILS ARE NO SECRET
The entire VIDA group’s carbon dioxide calculations are available on this website and independently verified by Swedish Government backed agency and a respected Swedish academic institution. You will also be able to read about both the current and any new initiatives that are systematically further reducing our carbon footprint.