(Credit: SCA)SCA, together with Scania, has developed the world's first electric timber truck with a capacity of 80 metric tons. SCA's goal is to make the entire value chain fossil fuel-free.
The intention is that the vehicle will transport timber on the stretch between SCA’s timber terminal in Gimonäs and the paper mill in Obbola outside Umeå in Sweden. The new electric timber truck can be driven with a total weight of 64 metric tons on public roads and 80 metric tons on private roads.
SCA Obbola's paper mill currently has a virtually fossil-free production process and the intention of the new vehicle is to reduce the fossil fuel elements in the transport chain of raw material to the mill.
The electric timber truck will be test-driven during the summer and continuously studied by the research institute Skogforsk to collect relevant data that can form the basis for comparisons with conventional diesel-powered timber transports. After that, the plan is for it to be included in SCA's regular operations.
"Sustainability and reduced carbon dioxide emissions are important for society as a whole, which means that the business is also dependent on us driving development. Our forests and forest products have created enormous climate benefits for a long period of time and our industries are very climate-efficient, which is why it is also obvious with high climate ambitions for our transports,” says Hans Djurberg.
The studies carried out during the summer will, among other things, compare energy consumption, productivity and costs against existing vehicles and map out what would be required for a broad implementation of electric timber trucks across the country.
Many companies prefer to procure wood from sustainable sources. Kraft Heinz is teaming up with Pulpex to develop a paper-based, renewable, and recyclable bottle made from 100% sustainably sourced wood pulp. Heinz is the first sauce brand to test the potential of Pulpex’s sustainable paper bottle packaging for its range of condiments.
IKEA makes furniture from wood that is harvested from rainforest nations. With that, it says that "sustainability begins at home" — and IKEA’s brand and mission are aligned with that thinking. Its furniture is thus lighter and smaller, and it is designed to fit in smaller homes.
