Project information
Project manager
Andreas Stephan
Other project members
Jan Weiss Vivek Ghosal (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA)
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University
Financier
Linnaeus University
Timetable
1 Jan 2023–31 Dec 2025
Subject
Forestry and Wood Technology (Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Faculty of Technology)
Knowledge Environment
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Green Sustainable Development
More about the project
The Green Transformation of Sweden’s Pulp and Paper Industry – What Works and Why? Sweden’s pulp and paper industry has long been one of the country’s most important – both economically and environmentally. Since the 1980s, the sector has undergone a major transformation, with sustainability and climate adaptation now at the forefront. Companies are investing in fossil-free energy, new materials, and more efficient processes to meet global climate goals and shifting market demands.
This project explores how this green transformation is unfolding:
- What motivates companies to invest in green technologies?
- What role do environmental regulations and policy incentives play?
- And how does this impact innovation and productivity in the industry?
The research combines quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews to provide a comprehensive picture. Using detailed firm-level data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), the team will analyze investment patterns, environmental performance, and economic development over time.
In parallel, interviews with key industry actors will offer insights into company strategies, drivers, and challenges. The project is supported by seed funding and serves as the foundation for a larger research application to the Swedish Energy Agency. In the next phase, several leading companies – including Stora Enso, Holmen, and SCA – will be involved. Their experiences are crucial to understanding what drives change in practice and what barriers still remain. The overall aim is to generate knowledge that supports both companies and policymakers in navigating the green transition. Success depends on making the right investments at the right time – and on effective policy instruments that foster innovation and competitiveness.
What is a seed project?
A seed project is a minor project funded by a knowledge environment or a research group at the university. The aim is to launch and promote excellent research. Depending on the financier, a seed project may be to idenfify new or deepen existing collaborations, preferably cross-disciplinary ones, to explore possible research issues in a feasibility study, to collect empirical material, or to write an application for external funding.
