Have you ever stopped to think about the importance of forests in your everyday life? How much wood do you use each month, and what impact does this have on the environment? We want to challenge your way of thinking: look at forests in a different way and notice how their well-being affects us all.
Finland is the most forested country in Europe
Did you know that there are an estimated 79 billion trees growing in Finland? This means that there are approximately 10 trees in Finland for every person in the world. And if we consider only us Finns, this number rises to approximately 12,000–13,000 trees per person.
Approximately 75% of Finland’s total area is covered by forest. Let’s put this into perspective with a more easily understandable amount. If the forest were divided equally among all Finns, each person would have about six soccer fields worth of forest.
Most of Finland’s forest cover, about two-thirds, grows in southern Finland. However, when viewed by province, Lapland comes out on top. Due to Lapland’s large area, it accounts for about 17% of Finland’s total forest volume.
Oxygen producer
One fully grown tree can produce about 100 kilograms of oxygen per year.
Humans, on the other hand, consume about 550 liters of oxygen per day. It has been calculated that it takes an average of about 7-8 fully grown trees to cover one person’s annual oxygen needs. This is an estimate, as the exact amount is of course greatly affected by the type, size, and age of the tree.
Invisible air pollution filter
Finland has been measured to be one of the countries with the cleanest air in the world, and the cleanest air in European cities can be found in Oulu. We owe a big thank you to our forests for this. Forests not only produce oxygen, but also bind carbon dioxide, fine particles, and pollutants to themselves. They maintain the balance of the entire atmosphere.
Without forests, global warming would accelerate and fine particles generated by traffic and industry would remain in the air we breathe for longer. Our air would also be drier and harder to breathe.
The forest is much more than just beautiful scenery. It breathes in carbon dioxide and releases oxygen. It purifies, balances, and keeps the air moving.
The forest is the lungs of Finland.
A change in thinking for the benefit of forests
Although Finland has 79 billion trees, resources are not unlimited. Forests grow slowly, and it takes several decades for trees to mature. What we take for granted is the result of a long process.
Forests are a big part of Finnish identity. We are used to seeing forests as a raw material that we use when we need heat, building materials, or entertainment. What if we changed our way of thinking?
At Paahtu, we have learned to see existing materials differently. We see value where others may not necessarily see it. We believe that significant ideas arise when we question familiar ways of doing things and dare to think differently.
We do not take forests for granted. As a company, we feel responsible for how natural resources are used. We do not want to put more burden on forests, but rather use materials more wisely, for example, by developing products from existing waste and other materials that would otherwise go to waste.
