How a pulp mill can transform waste and emissions into new products
During harvesting, the forestry machine collects a lot of data on the characteristics and position of a tree. By linking this with information about the journey of the tree from standing trunk to the industry, it is possible to trace a final product all the way back to the forest. One Mistra Digital Forest project is currently bridging the gaps that have so far prevented this kind of scenario from becoming a reality.
In recent decades, traceability in forestry has improved and nowadays the sawmill can say with reasonable certainty where the log comes from, for example. However, much of the data collected by harvesters and forwarders does not follow the value chain, and remains unutilised. For example, each harvested log has a unique digital identity that tells us where and when it was harvested, its species and size. In other words, information that can be used to increase knowledge about the origin of products, and be of use in subsequent processing.
- However, when the logs are stacked at the roadside, they are still labelled manually. In this project, we aim to digitise this step as well, and to link it with data from the forestry machines. In this way, it will be possible to trace individual logs all the way to the sawmill, the pulp mill and to other involved industries, says Johan J Möller, the deputy programme manager for the Value Chains programme at Skogforsk, with responsibility for the project which is run by Mistra Digital Forest.
Preparing standards for new data collection possibilities
By building traceability in this way, forest raw material certifications can be improved.
- The project aims to further develop existing standards and prepare them for the data collection possibilities that come with new and improved sensors on the forest machines of tomorrow. In order to build a digital infrastructure, the data collected by the trailers also needs to be standardised, says Johan J Möller.
Skogforsk will also be providing relevant data to a sister project within Mista Digital Forest. In this project, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is working to develop digital product passports that can be used to calculate energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in the total life cycle of a product, for example.
Technology is tested in practice
Next, the researchers will install sensors on the lorry crane that picks up the logs at the roadside. With the help of the sensors, it is possible to determine the exact position of logs in the stacks with very high precision, and so to identify individual logs. This is an example of technology that is just around the corner, and with additional support from Vinnova, three demonstrators will be built in 2024 together with Sveaskog, Holmen and SCA. Machine and sensor companies Komatsu, Tamtron, and L5 Navigation Palfinger are also participating, as well as Biometria, the organisation for timber measurement and accounting.
- Currently we produce a large amount of standardised production data that we lose along the way. Linking and improving the value chain creates opportunities for extracting more value from forest products, and for improving the industry's processes. I also see benefits for the working environment, such as the forwarder driver not having to stamp the timber manually, and a more efficient workflow for road transport operators, says Mikael Sundelin, Head of Business Development at SCA.