The importance of cleantech business for the development of future wood products industries

Abstract

Cleantech refers to processes which help reduce the environmental load caused by humans. For the present, the wood products sector has been considered a part of the concept of bioeconomy in Finland. This study aimed to analyse the possibilities for closer collaboration between the wood products sector and cleantech. An in-depth interview of 10 experts mostly from outside the wood products sector was carried out. In addition, a web questionnaire sent to 228 experts representing in particular the forest and wood sector received 62 answers. The results revealed many opportunities and benefits that are not being maximized in terms of collaboration between the wood products and cleantech sectors. Timber construction and wood product manufacturing process know-how are among the areas showing the strongest possibilities for closer integration with cleantech. People outside the forest sector seem to be more open to collaboration between cleantech and wood-based industries than those in the forest sector. China, followed by other Asian and European countries, offers virtually unlimited markets for cleantech solutions, and wood may assume a prominent role in those markets.