Maybe we were just lucky. When we built Sweden´s first wood high-rise, which, at eight storeys, turned out to be a world first, we knew that wood had its advantages. It would, we reasoned, be quicker and more environmentally friendly to build in wood than in concrete and steel. But what we didn’t know, back then, was that using wood turned out to be one of the most effective choices that any of us can make on behalf of the Earth´s climate.

By planting forests, we can grow buildings. Entire cities, even. All from something as natural as a tree. It´s brilliant. And yet few people know this.

That´s why we´ve stopped making buildings and decided to dedicate our time to sharing the secret of how we can begin to grow our cities. The cities of the future, we believe, must start out life as forests, and Arvet plans and manages that journey. This is all part of a larger operation: saving planet Earth.

1. No Poverty.

To build in wood, we need forests. The cultivation of those forests in turn generates work and educational opportunities, and generates economic growth, a development which benefits everyone.

2. Zero Hunger.

Forests help to establish water catchments and create shade in hot climates. The resulting improvements in the quality of soil create opportunities to cultivate land for agricultural purposes. Increased vegetable and grain production provides food for people and livestock. When agriculture becomes more established, investments in sustainable infrastructure systems become more economically viable.

3. Good Health and Well-Being.

Wood buildings use a high proportion of natural, non-toxic materials. There are health benefits to simply being in wood buildings and wood cities: heart rates slow, stress hormone levels drop and body and mind repair themselves more rapidly.

4. Quality Education.

The knowledge-intensive nature of contemporary forestry and wood construction activities stimulate demand for new skillsets and educated workers.

5. Gender Equality.

Due to its reliance on heavy manual labour, construction has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. From tree planting to forestry to work on the building site, new relations to technology and digitalization in wood industries mean that everyone can contribute to societal development through their work.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation.

Forestry gives us the opportunity to restore water catchments to health and to rehabilitate ecosystems. In contrast to concrete and steel construction, which depletes and pollutes water bodies, wood construction is compatible with the principles of recycling.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy.

Contemporary advances in forest-based energy production mean that forests no longer need to be used as sources of charcoal. Charcoal used in the preparation of food and for heating today constitutes a serious threat to the environment and human health, particularly for women, who in large parts of the world spend more time within the domestic environment than men.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Wood construction improves global effectiveness in resource consumption and production. This helps to break the ties that bind economic development to detrimental environmental impacts.

9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.

A range of highly innovative processes support the use of wood as a building material. These processes ensure an inclusive and sustainable form of industrialisation.

10. Reduced Inequalities.

We encourage public development aid and flows of capital (including foreign direct investment) into the countries in which we are active and this is required. Such support reduces inequalities.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Through financial and technical support, we are committed to the development of resilient cities that are built in a sustainable manner using local materials. Such cities are also to be serviced by sustainable systems for both transport and recycling.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production.

Our methods ensure sustainable management and the effective use of natural resources. Through education, people build up the values, knowledge and skills needed to engage in the sustainable development of their societies.

13. Climate Action.

Wood is the only completely renewable construction material that we have. For this reason, wood buildings and cities produce the least possible greenhouse gas emissions throughout their entire lifetime, from cradle to grave. Concrete construction results in the use of enormous volumes of fossil materials; it is for this reason that the construction sector surpasses all other industries in its negative impact on our climate. In fact, cement production currently accounts for double the emissions caused by aeroplane travel globally.

14. Life Below Water.

We work with the aim of introducing wood as a resource in all situations and sectors. One reason for this is that the use of wood rather than concrete reduces pollution in the world´s oceans. By removing the need to harvest sand from the ocean floor for concrete production, wood construction lets us leave the ocean in peace.

15. Life on Land.

Meeting demand for sustainable raw materials is challenging if humans are to also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support biodiversity. The sustainable use of forest resources helps, allowing us to maintain our planet´s climate and thus the conditions of human existence itself.

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

We take an active role in producing a sustainable world. We exercise respect in relation to all people and all places. We highlight beauty as a quality worth striving for in the prod-uction of places, and see beauty as productive of a sense of belonging and respect.

17. Partnerships for the Goals.

We invite everyone who shares our vision and our goals to join us in forming a global movement. Together, we will actively seek to contribute to improving our climate and our quality of life globally.