Consumption of products of the forest
industries (6.7)
 |
| Demand for printing and writing papers is predicted to decrease
due to the rapid development of electronic communication
technology. |
The per capita consumption of products of the forest industries
gives an idea of the economic significance of wood and forest
industry products, but it is also an indication of the status and
appreciation of wood in society at large.
Because wood is a renewable natural raw material, its use is
recommended instead of non-renewable raw materials (plastic,
metal, concrete, etc.) due to environmental and energy-related
benefits. Above all, factors in favour of the use of wood are its
capacity to sequester carbon, the good eco-balance of its procurement
and production chains (especially in wood production),
and life cycle issues.
The consumption of sawn goods per capita in Finland is the
highest in the world. In 2010, the consumption was 0.8 cubic
metres per capita, but the average consumption in the 2000s
was about one cubic metre per capita. The consumption of sawn
goods is connected especially to the use of timber in housing
construction and in the repair of old residential buildings. Domestic
consumption of paper and paperboard35 was 213 kg per
capita in 2010. Domestic consumption has remained around a
little over 200 kg per capita for the last decade.
Most of the production of forest industry products in Finland is
exported. In the last decade, the shares of domestic consumption
of the paper, wood products and sawmill industry production
were about 10%, 30% and 40%, respectively.
 |
 |
| Figure 6.7a. Production and domestic comsumption of sawn
goods, 1980–2010.
|
Figure 6.7b. Production and domestic consumption of paper
and paperboard, 1980–2010. |
Links
35 Calculated domestic consumption of paper and paperboard is the sum of domestic deliveries plus imports minus exports of converted products and net exports of printed products. |
