Cooperative Organizations Play Vital Role in Boosting Swedish Economy, Says Södra

A new report from Svensk Kooperation shows that cooperative enterprises in Sweden have increased their turnover by 27 percent over the past decade and now account for around ten percent of GDP. Södra is one of the largest players, contributing to a resilient and sustainable forestry sector – where members have influence and share in the value created.

Cooperative businesses have proven strong and stable over time. The report Det kooperativa Sverige 2014–2024 reveals that the sector generated a turnover of SEK 676 billion in 2024, an increase of SEK 145 billion compared with 2014. The largest companies together employ nearly 100,000 people. The UN has designated 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, highlighting the model as a key to achieving the sustainability goals.

Södra Skogsägarna is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association with more than 50,000 members and a turnover of SEK 29 billion. With a mission to refine and renew the values of the forest estate, we enable long-term value creation for members and society. As a cooperative, we ensure that the value generated by our operations benefits our members and supports the development of their forest estates. This means we process raw material from the forest into products that contribute to more sustainable construction, such as cross-laminated timber, and develop solutions that strengthen the value chain from forest to customer. Through innovation, collaboration and responsibility, we work to optimise the forest’s potential while promoting sustainable use of natural resources.

“The report confirms what we see every day: the cooperative model remains strong, even in times of change. For Södra’s members, it’s about more than business – it’s about creating value from the forest while safeguarding the long-term worth of the forest estate. Through collaboration and a long-term approach, we make it possible to develop the forest as a resource for both members and society,” says Henrik Andersson, Head of Strategy and Cooperation at Södra.

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Södra was founded in 1938 on the idea that we are stronger together. We are now the largest forest-owner association in Sweden, with more than 50,000 family forest owners as members. Together, the members of Södra own a world-leading industrial operation that processes forest raw material into renewable products such as pulp, timber, building systems, energy and biochemicals. About 3,400 people are employed in our forest industry and in 2024, Södra generated sales of SEK 29billion. Our products are exported all over the world and together, we are contributing to a more natural way of living. Rooted in the forest, we grow the future.