IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad with Eva Stål, IKEA Sweden Coordinator for Environment and Social Responsibility. “Wood Works”, the documentary film that premiered at this years Barents Reunion, directed by Alex Shiriaeff and produced by Malcolm Dixelius. From the left Sveaskog CEO Gunnar Olofsson discussing corporate responsibility for the environment with Max CEO Richard Bergfors. IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad (first from the left) personally took part in all the discussions. Here he is seen discussing climate change with PEAB CEO Mats Paulsson (centre) and author Johan Tell. Convention participants in discussion groups. IKEA Project Manager Arvid Grindheim explaining just how bright the idea was to introduce low-energy bulbs at IKEA premises. From the left Andreas Lind, Managing Director of the Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce, Gry Holmgren, CEO Centek AB and Tord Pettersson, Project Manager at Nenet. IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad standing by PEAB CEO Mats Paulsson (left) and Sveaskog CEO Gunnar Olofsson (right).

A war opera, a jazz festival, a visit of the Nordic Council of Ministers and large sports events – there sure was a lot going on in Haparanda-Tornio coinciding with this year’s edition of Barents Reunion. When the municipal commissioners of Haparanda and Tornio, Sven-Erik Bucht (Haparanda) and Raimo Ronkainen (Tornio), opened this year´s convention they thus had plenty of proof for their conviction that the twin cities of Haparanda and Tornio are truly hot.

Sweden´s largest morning paper, Dagens Nyheter, helped prove this point by running a top story about Haparanda on the first day of the convention. More news was to be made the following day by convention participants. Aside from newspapers the convention was covered by both Swedish and Russian TV companies.

Like last year´s convention (the first ever Barents Reunion) this year´s was not only largely made possible by Ingvar Kamprad and IKEA. The IKEA founder also personally attended every lecture during the convention and took part in discussions in a lively manner.

Also in line with the first convention there was a documentary film premiere on the first day. This year saw the premiere for “Wood Works”, a film directed by Alex Shiriaieff. The surprisingly warm and colourful film describes the relationship to wood for construction in north Sweden and north-western Russia. The Russians are rediscovering their own rich traditions of using wood for housing. In this “rediscovery” it seems Sweden, with an unbroken tradition of using wood, may have something to offer Russia. The film more than accomplishes its goal by a good choice of appearances of both ordinary people and key specialists in wooden housing.

The film was cordially received by the convention after which there was an opportunity to ask the film´s director and one of its main “stars”, CEO Erik Lindbäck, about issues raised from having seen the film. It seemed as if the convention participants agreed with the film´s director that there is a good potential in Russia for Swedish wooden housing and/or Swedish methods and style.

The next point in the programme was “Sustainable Forestry in the Far North”, a presentation by Sveaskog CEO Gunnar Olofsson. According to Olofsson´s experience there is definately a growing demand for environment-certified products. Sveaskog is therefore investing more in forest preservation and new technology. The company is involved both in the development of bio-diesel fuel and electric hybrid forestry vehicles.

Eva Stål, Coordinator for Environment and Social Responsibility at IKEA Sweden, then spoke about IKEA policy towards both the environment and labour conditions (child labour especially). Her lecture was very aptly entitled “Low price, but not at any price”. She stressed the need to have an environmental perspective at every stage of production.

In the experience of IKEA it is also not only good business for all sides to provide training for third-world farmers, it is also decreasing water consumption in the production of cotton. In other words, good for the environment.

In the manual for “The IKEA Way In Purchasing” also the labor conditions among subcontractors counts. IKEA has thus encouraged third world labourers to develop ombudsmen.

Finally, Eva Stål briefed her audience about the desire on IKEA`s part, of improved public communications.

“How to Make an Environmentally Friendly Hamburger!” was the provocative title of the next lecture, held by Richard Bergfors, CEO MAX restaurants. Bergfors is the head of a chain of 70 MAX hamburger restaurants from Haparanda in the north to Ystad in the south, plus soon several restaurants abroad. MAX has taken many pioneering steps to become an environmentally sustainable and also socially responsible company. For example all products are very clearly carbon-dioxide marked and by the year 2011 at least 200 employees with some kind of handicap are to have joined the chain´s staff.

Max has taken the decision to become the market leader in decreasing hazarduous emissions, informing customers about carbon-dioxide emission per product and also in compensating for those emissions that are inevitable. As an example of the latter MAX had 90 000 trees planted in Africa during 2008.

During the ensuing discussion convention moderator Malcolm Dixelius asked Richard Bergfors how he viewed foreign competitors. Bergfors welcomed other companies to virtually copy the environmental policies and concepts of MAX.

The second and final convention day was kicked off with the lecture “What Can You and I Do to Keep the World Sustainable?” by the Swedish author Johan Tell. One of Tell´s many well put points was that even though there is a broad consensus regarding climate change there are skeptics regarding the human involvement (blame). But even if one doubts the human factor in climate change it should now be self-evident that many things are seriously wrong with western consumption. Changes in our life style are most necessary, regardless of any doubt re. the root cause of current climate change.

Johan Tell provided a host of predictions about how consumption and life style will change. Generally speaking it seems the willingness to pay more, for the sake of the environment, will increase. But with a provision, these more “green” products should also last longer.

Ragnhild Svonni of the Swedish Sami Parliament then spoke about “Our Living Environment — a Sami perspective”. She explained why indigenous peoples such as the Sami have extra strong reasons for concern regarding the environment: “nature peoples” are first hit by environmental problems. The reindeer provides a positive and hopefully inspiring symbol both for Samis and all other peoples. The reindeer will not graze in an area so much that it will affect nature, unless it is forced to do so. The reindeer lives so that it will not leave any marks on nature.

Senior Advisor (Vattenfall) Kjell Isaksson was the next speaker and spoke about “Environmentally Friendly, Small-Scale Hydroelectric Power - Dream or Reality?”. He pointed out the large number of companies and institutions in the north that have expressed interest small-scale hydroelectric power. Within 2-3 years a pilot plant should be operational.

The final lecture was “IKEA goes renewable” by IKEA project manager Arvid Grindheim. He explained how half of IKEA carbon dioxide emissions are a result of IKEA premises. Fairly simple reforms within IKEA, such as changing to low-energy bulbs, have already meant a lot. But training of staff in energy and environment issues, as well as competition among staff (between shops), is also most effective.

In the final panel discussion PEAB CEO Mats Paulsson promised greater integration of environmental aspects in PEAB`s products and services. Carl Bennet of Carl Bennet AB stressed how consumers will make stronger demands on corporations re. environmental aspects. He also expressed a strong wish that Sweden should find common ground with its Nordic neighbours about energy production. Ingvar Kamprad spoke about how much we underestimate the value of clean water and how it should be more in focus in future efforts.

Speaking about next year´s convention, moderator Malcolm Dixelius indicated that the main focus of it will be artistic and creative firms and tourism.

All text and photos © Lars Gyllenhaal and Barents Reunion 2009