"In this shift, the forest is a goldmine” : The alignment of sustainability and economic rationales in the Swedish forest industry

Abstract: Despite the high rate of deforestation and directed critique toward its industrial practices, the Swedish forest industry is declaring itself to be an accelerator of a green transition in the race toward carbon-zero. Seemingly, there is a discrepancy between the general perception of forest management and the actor's presentation. Within our research, we question how sustainability in the industry is reasoned and enacted. Bioeconomy has been identified as an increasingly popular concept within the forestry scene that intends to enable a low-carbon society. Two Swedish cluster organizations working within this context became insightful cases. By applying an inductive and qualitative approach we interviewed 13 experts. Through their accounts, we uncovered the prevailing motives for their sustainability work. Drawing upon previous scholarly contributions in the discourse around a green economy, we learned that the dichotomy of industrialism and sustainability is abandoned in the forest industry's perception. The applied practices are deeply rooted in green growth and weak sustainability rationales. Thereby, the industry is contributing to the economization of forests. The alignment of sustainability and growth endeavors results in the paradoxical justification that only harvesting can lead to a low-carbon and fossil-free economy. We encourage future research to continue raising awareness about the problematic dynamics arising from weak sustainability approaches and work together with the industry toward more transformative trajectories.