Forests’ Carbon Sink is Rapidly Weakening – How Can the Circular Economy Help?

The reduction of carbon sinks in forests is forcing many industries to seek new solutions that would enable them to conduct their business in a more sustainable and circular way. Therefore, today, many companies have started implementing circular business models, which are crucial for developing future-proof solutions and creating a sustainable economy. By switching to more circular production and business practices—instead of sourcing virgin raw materials from forests—companies can also unlock significant potential for economic growth.

The need for raw materials continues to grow while our planet is burdened with waste. The circular economy is based on resource efficiency, aiming to minimize waste generation during production and consumption. It also reduces countries’ dependence on imported raw materials, thereby increasing the resilience of the economy.

Forests are often considered a part of the circular economy as the industry relies on wood that is biobased and renewable. Wood, as a raw material, can be transformed into diverse recyclable or biodegradable products, while the processes also yield usable by-products.

However, the renewability of wood and forests should not allow us to use them in a short-sighted way. Instead, it is crucial to use wood wisely as a renewable natural resource because it serves as an important carbon sink, crucial for conserving biodiversity and preventing climate change.

The main cause of the reduction in carbon sinks is deforestation. In April 2023, the Finnish Environment Institute published a report examining the carbon sink development in Finnish forests from 2021 to 2025. The results were alarming. 

There is a significant risk that Finland will fall short of the reference level of forests and the land-use obligations set by the EU by millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Logging has the most significant negative impact on these numbers, prompting many industries to consider how the circular economy can contribute to their processes.

What does TM Systems do to protect carbon sinks? 

Wood cycles from the forest as a raw material and then as a product, offering numerous possibilities to re-enter either the carbon, nutrient, side stream, or product cycle. If the material no longer qualifies as a raw material, it can be utilized as biomass fuel. 

With almost 50 years of experience in providing technologies that have helped companies to become resource-efficient, TM Systems develops and supplies sustainable technology solutions that enable optimized circulation of bio-based raw materials, and water and air. The company contributes to circular economy and promotes a waste-free world and stays up to date with the current needs for cleaner drying technologies and energy-efficient solutions, providing customers with the latest innovations. 

For example, SuperDryer™ technology provides a radically novel, efficient and economical way to dry biomasses. It for instance harnesses recycled cellulose to substitute virgin one harvested from forests, that would contrarily harm our precious carbon sinks.  

This is just one implementation of the game-changing drying technology that enables diverse mass and material flows to be reprocessed and recycled, following circular economy principles. 

So, how can circular solutions protect our forests? 

Through innovative technologies, circular forestry can be energy- and material-efficient, actively utilizing side streams, and obtaining high added value by utilizing the chemical components of wood, such as lignin. Materials like virgin or recycled pulp, textiles, and new cellulose-based fibres can be dried and used again as raw materials. 

The circular economy impacts every company and every industry sector, from manufacturers and energy producers to those involved in sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling. Embracing circular economy principles benefits the economy, society, and the environment by transforming former waste into fresh, valuable raw materials. Circular processing technologies are one solution that contribute to companies’ and industries’ strategic goals of being more circular in production and not harming carbon sinks. 

Let’s work together to contribute to the sustainable use of our forests! Click here for more information about our products.