**Reductions in sulphur emissions of between 60-70 per cent will be the result of talks on sea transports of forest industry products, which the Swedish forest industries have conducted with the Swedish National Maritime Administration. The Swedish Forest Industries Association recommends its members to start using low sulphur oil for transportation by sea on their own contracted ships. The recommendation also includes the introduction of catalytic cleaning or equivalent measures.

"The Swedish forest industries are already in the lead internationally when It comes to the fight against harmful emissions from the production process itself. It is. therefore, quite natural to focus environmental work on transportation." says Staffan Thonfors, secretary of the transport committee at the Swedish Forest Industries Association. "There are relatively large environmental gains to be made in this area."

Large Transport-user Pushes Ahead with Development

The recommendation by the Swedish Forest Industries Association to its members is the result of negotiations with the Swedish National Maritime Administration. The back-

eround is that parliament has decided to Introduce a so-called differentiated environmental tariff for shipping from 1st January 1998. This means that ships which fulfil certain environmental requirements will pay lower fairway and harbour

"We are in favour of this system which will lead to more environmentally-adapted shipping," says Staffan Thonfors. "Differentiated tariffs provide the incentives to sea carriers to accomplish environmental improvements. The forest industries, which are Sweden's largest transportuser. are, because of their size, in a position to be a driving force in this development. We Intend to make use of this opportunity."

The agreement also shows that it is possible to Introduce economic control mechanisms in the area of the environment which are mutually agreed by industry and the state. This is Important for the continuing environmental work." says Staffan Thonfors.

Policy for Transports

"As Sweden’s biggest trans-port-user. utilising road, rail and sea for transports, (see diagram) it is important that the forest Industries follow and try to influence developments in environmental questions within the transport sector." Staffan Thonfors points out. In order to stimulate that development, , an,. environmental policy fpr transports has been drawn up. which states that:

•The forest industries shall

work to develop their transport systems to become more environmentally adapted based on analyses of the environmental loads throughout the transport chain.

•Activities shall be determined by considering what is technically feasible, economically viable and ecologically justified.

•Environmental work shall be characterised by holism and be conducted with the aim of achieving continuous improvements.

•When choosing suppliers for transport, environmental aspects snail be given great weight.

•The forest industries shall cooperate actively with national and international authorities and organisations on environmental questions. The forest industries see the question of climate as a global issue which requires coordinated international efforts in the transport area.

Protection of the Marine Environment

The environmental policy also includes a practical programme of measures. Concerning sea transport, it states, among other things, that it Is important for the preservation of the marine environment that waste products from shipping in the form of oil. oily water or other harmful substances, are taken care of in a proper way. In harbours which are regularly used by vessels with forest in-, ,-piustry nrpducts. the sector shall work ten ensure that facilities exist to receive the waste products. ’