More than half of the wood used by Stora Enso is transported by truck. This makes it vital for units to optimise road routes and focus on emission reductions.
GPS-based route optimisation systems were tested by Wood Supply Russia in late 2004. Similar systems are already in use in Finland and Sweden. These systems calculate the most efficient routes from the forest to the mills, and can also reduce emissions by minimising the empty running of trucks. Wood Supply Baltic in Estonia and Wood Supply Continental Europe are also looking into introducing GPS in their transportation routes.
Environmental contract clauses
In 2004, Wood Supply Continental Europe introduced environmental clauses into contracts with transportation suppliers. Another focus area was reducing the overloading of trucks by introducing a penalty system for suppliers that fail to follow standards set by Wood Supply Continental Europe.
Increased use of rail in the Baltics
Rail transport is also on the increase in the Wood Supply Baltic region. In Estonia, the use of local rail transport increased by 15% in 2004 due to a new system that facilitates the loading of pulpwood into wagons. EU membership has led to changes in timber transportation in Lithuania. Two new inland rail terminals were opened in 2004 in order to reduce costs, cut emissions and attract new local suppliers.
Improving worker safety
In a joint project, Wood Supply Russia and Wood Supply Finland have designed a new timber railway wagon that improves worker safety by eliminating the need for workers to climb on top of the wagon to unlock the lashes before the logs can be unloaded. The logs can instead be directly picked up by a crane.
Vessel steering systems increase efficiency
Wood Supply Europe’s Sea Logistics Team organises wood shipments to mills, to complement supplies transported by rail and road. A new vessel steering system is currently being devised to minimise the empty running of ships, and maximise the transport of wood in the form of return cargos of product deliveries.
