Forests play a crucial role in the global environment. The forest industry employs close to 14 million people, accounting for one per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP). Approximately 500 million people depend on the forest for their livelihood and hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs around the world rely on the forest for fibre and raw material. Therefore, as both businesses and consumers, we should take measures to protect the forest for future generations. One way to do this is to encourage working with sustainably harvested wood as much as possible.

Wood is renewable, reusable and bio- degradable, and all of our trays and placemats are FSC-certified. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international, independent organisation that promotes environmentally responsible forest management, but unlike other certifications, it also takes social and economic aspects into consideration.

How the placemats are made

The manufacture of Svenskt Tenn’s placemats takes place at Åry Trays in Nybro. Each placemat passes through five different stations during the production process: print, service, pressing, milling and polishing, as well as inspection and packaging. A major challenge in the work lies in obtaining a print result which is as close to the textile pattern as possible in both details and colour shades. Consequently, there is often a great deal of work with samples and adjustments before production can begin.

The production of placemats begins with the designs being printed on special paper, produced specifically to withstand the production process. Printing takes place using the very latest technique which provides a pattern design which is rich in detail, while using as little ink as possible in order to protect the environment.

The printed paper is cut out and laid together with birch veneer, lacquer and adhesive in powerful presses, which are set and adapted based on the size of the placemats. The placemats are then pressed together at a pressure of approximately 20 – 25 kg/cm2 and a temperature of approximately 125 – 130°C. After that, they remain in the press for some 6 – 7 minutes before being taken out in order to cool down slowly.

The cooled placemats are driven through a rondell milling cutter in order to receive the correct shape, before being polished by hand so that the edges become softly rounded. Finally, it’s time to inspect the placemats before they receive an EAN label and are packed for shipment to Svenskt Tenn.