Abstract

The purpose of our study is to explore how companies operating in the Nordic wood products value chains currently use environmental performance measures in their environmental policy and communication with stakeholders. Apart from the regularly-used environmental management certificates, the ability of wood material to store carbon and the use of sustainable forest management certificates open up interesting strategic options for firms in the implementation of their environmental policy. The primary was collected through thematic managerial interviews in 2011 from 37 companies in Finland, Sweden and Norway, of varying size, roles in the value chain, conditions for green business practices and exports. Forest certification and environmental management systems were frequently used, but managers did not always perceive them to be useful, particularly for raising environmental awareness at the final consumer level. Nevertheless, the general attitude towards using environmental performance measures was seen as positive. Companies with a business-to-business orientation were the most proactive in terms of environmental communication, whereas companies in consumer markets were more reactive. The key stakeholders targeted for environmental communication were value chain partners and the authorities, and only to a lesser degree employees and environmental non-governmental organisations. The key strategic role of environmental management and communication appeared to be securing the firms against negative environmental claims. The Nordic wood industry could improve their communication if the strategic orientation is shifted from the forest certification to the use of generic eco-labels, and most of all, to the adoption of quantitative measures like carbon footprints and environmental product declarations. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.

Keywords

environmental policy; environmental performance; sustainable forest management; proactivity; stakeholder orientation; communication

Published in

Business Strategy and the Environment
2016, Volume: 25, number: 1, pages: 10-27
Publisher: WILEY-BLACKWELL

SLU Authors

• Roos, Anders

  • Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
SDG8 Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
SDG12 Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns


UKÄ Subject classification

Business Administration


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1853

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/75359