However, in an environment of uncertainty, the focus on cost and resource efficiency inevitably intensifies. Ours is very much a culture of putting our people at the centre of what we do, because without the passionate people behind our pulp, we don’t have a business.

Health and safety is a focus we take extremely seriously because an efficient workforce needs to feel safe and secure with a work-life balance that is conducive to optimum productivity. We strive for zero accidents, and we count even the smallest incident. It’s extremely rare that any accident is negligence or idleness. It’s almost always the case that an employee might take a risk or cut a corner thinking they are doing the right thing, avoiding a stoppage or working quickly, but we work hard to communicate that nothing can ever be at the expense of safety.

It will come as no surprise to hear that we are seeking to optimise every aspect of the business from resource efficiency to mill productivity as part of our strategy to weather the highs and lows of the cycle and become even more competitive. But it’s important to stress we are here for the long term and our focus on innovation and sustainability is relentless. We have a strong and stable structure in the Södra model built on family forestry, an ever-increasing range of products around the core business that is pulp, and a willingness to innovate and invest for the future.

I found myself calling Värö a Super Site during Barcelona Pulp Week because pulp mill is no longer accurate for a facility that is truly making the most of every tree, from sawn timber and pulp to tall oil, tannin, green energy, district heating and more.

Investment in R&D and state-of-the-art facilities is ongoing and will continue. We are trialling innovations such as Spira pulp, ready to scale up if customers want us to, and investing in world firsts such as the new lignin plant at Mönsterås.

The pulp market might be difficult today, but it remains the core from which we build a diverse and growing portfolio for the future, adding value to strengthen our reserves, increasing our competitiveness and helping build a more sustainable future for the long term.

Henrik Wettergren, Vice President Södra Cell International