Finns appreciate forest industry – share of environmental critics only 25 percent

People in Finland value forest industry because of the export and tax revenues that it brings. According to Finns, forest industry also manages its environmental responsibility better than other branches of industry.

According to an opinion poll commmissioned by the Finnish Forest Industries Federation, Finns value the role of the forest industry as the backbone of Finnish economy. No less than 85 percent of the respondents consider it significant for the safeguarding of export and tax revenues.

In addition to this, 83 percent thought that the statement ”generates employment and welfare in the whole of Finland” describes the forest industry very well or fairly well. Most of all, the forest industry is seen as an actor that strengthens regional economies: this was the opinion of 70 percent of the respondents.

Finns are also confident about the forest industry’s success in the future. Of the respondents, 86 percent thought that the significance of the forest industry for the national economy will increase or at least remain the same during the next ten years. The branch is seen to promote national economy in a responsible way, and this was the opinion of both young and older age groups.

One third of those responding estimated the forest industry’s share of Finland’s exports correctly: around 20 percent. Close to half thought that it is larger.

Another thing inquired about was the employment effect of the forest sector as a whole, and it was estimated correctly by about one third of the respondents: 140,000 jobs, but on an average, the number of jobs was estimated to be somewhat lower.

Good reputation in environmental matters and as employer

The results are well in line with the Metsä ja puu (Forest and Timber) opinion poll that has been carried out by the Finnish Forest Association regularly since 1993. In this poll, the forest-related opinions of Finns are inquired about by over 30 questions covering several different angles, and the support gained by the forest sector is always on the level of 60–80 percent.

However, there are also some unexpected contradictions among the results of the forest industry’s poll: on the one hand, the respondents did not think that the forest industry is especially innovative, yet on the other hand, over half of them considered it to be ”the flagship of Finnish research and innovation activities”. Close to half of the respondents thought that the significance of the forest industry will increase during the next ten years.

The emissions from forest industry into its vicinity were considered to be small: just under one fourth of the respondents thought that the forest industry causes harmful odours or emissions into waterways. Four out of five respondents thought that the forest industry’s role in combating climate change is very significant or fairly significant.

The forest industry’s reputation as employer is also high, estimated by the respondents as the best in the private sector. 62 percent of the respondents considered the forest industry to be a good employer.

The majority also considered that the forest industry respects its employees. in terms of the future of the branch it might, however, be significant that the reputation as an employer was lower than the average among respondents below 35 years of age.

Results surprised the industry itself

The results were so positive as to surprise even the Finnish Forest Industries Federation itself: ”And what is essential, Finns are well informed about, for example, the forest sector’s share of exports,” said Timo Jaatinen, Executive Director of the federation.

According to the poll, over 60 percent of the respondents said they place the highest trust in researchers as a source of information on issues related to the forest industry. The next best were the authorities, the Finnish state forest company Metsähallitus and the media.

23 percent said they trust the environmental organisations. In the Metsä ja puu opinion poll the results were similat to this, but in terms of who is trusted about environmental protection issues in the forest sector, the environmental organisations gained somewhat better results.

The opinion poll of the forest industry was carried out by the Taloustutkimus research company via its Internet panel in the beginning of June. Close to 4,000 Finns between the ages 18–79 responded. The statistical error margin is one percentage point or less in both directions.

Finnish Forest Industries Federation

Forest and Timber (Metsä ja puu) opinion poll