Södra is a cooperative jointly owned by more than 50,000 forest owners
Södra is an economic association owned by more than 50,000 forest owners in Götaland, the southern part of Sweden. The association was founded in 1938 and is based on cooperative principles: one member, one vote, democratic governance and profit sharing to the members. Since the owners are also raw material suppliers, the value from industry and processing is reinvested in the joint operations and distributed back to the forest estate. This creates a stable ownership structure that is anchored in the members' activities.
Södra was founded in 1938 and is a cooperative based on cooperative principles of long-term member benefit, democracy and collaboration.
Södra is an economic association that aims to strengthen its members' finances. Södra purchases and refines its members' forest raw materials, conducts industrial and financial operations and ensures stable sales of the raw material at market prices. Södra also works to promote profitable and sustainable forestry regarding nature and culture, offers services and training to its members, disseminates knowledge about cooperatives and pursues industrial policy issues.
Member benefits
The cooperative is based on creating long-term benefits, also for the next generation of family foresters. The board ensures that the company's purpose and strategies are based on the opinion of the members.
Collaboration
The members participate through two roles – a business relationship and an ownership relationship. By doing business with Södra, members take responsibility for the jointly owned industry and share in the value created through the profit sharing.
Democracy
Södra is governed by active members through democratic processes. The members appoint representatives to the highest decision-making bodies according to the principle of one member, one vote.
Read more about membership in Södra: Forestry and members