World champions’ road to a fossil-free life

Heidi Andersson and Björn Ferry are dedicated planet caretakers with the goal of becoming completely fossil-free by 2025. Being a planet caretaker means striving to make climate-smart choices in all aspects of life, influencing everything from family purchases and travel habits to hobbies and careers.

Their dedication and high ambitions have fascinated and inspired us for a long time, and we are proud to finally have the opportunity to exchange a few words with these former world champions who are now devoted planet caretakers.

Who are Heidi Andersson and Björn Ferry?

Heidi Andersson is an eleven-time world champion in arm wrestling. She grew up in the small village of Ensamheten in Lapland, dreaming from a young age of becoming a professional arm wrestler and a world-class planet caretaker.

Heidi coaches arm wrestling, sells and rents out arm wrestling tables featuring the world’s strongest arm wrestling profile, collaborates with companies striving to lead the way toward a fossil-free future, and gives presentations about the couple’s journey toward achieving that goal.

During the snow-free season, she enjoys working on their forest estates, engaging in planting and clearing. The estates span 1,000 hectares and include both biotope-protected and production forests. Björn and Heidi’s forestry is PEFC and FSC certified.

Björn Ferry is an Olympic biathlon champion and now works as an expert commentator for biathlon on SVT. He enjoys both hands-on work in the forest and theoretical deep dives into forestry-related topics.

As a hobby, Björn has been researching three-toed woodpeckers for several years. To date, he has published three research articles on the subject.

You’re former elite athletes – how has that shaped your journey?

"As elite athletes, we’ve learned to set clear goals, work methodically, and view each day as an opportunity to actively progress toward our objectives—now focused on accelerating the transition to renewable energy and a fossil-free future."

"While we still dedicate time to training, it’s no longer about becoming the best in the world at our respective sports but rather about training for our own well-being. Instead, our passion for environmental and climate issues has become our new elite-level focus."

"We see it as a long-term challenge that requires endurance and responsibility, both for ourselves and for future generations."

What have been the biggest challenges so far?

"The most difficult and challenging aspects are those we cannot influence through active choices—such as the need for essential societal functions to transition so that we, as citizens, can also become fossil-free."

"Choosing trains over flights is an obvious decision for us, but for more people to make the same choice, train travel in Sweden—and across Europe—needs to become a more attractive option."

"When trains run smoothly and aren’t disrupted by weather, wear and tear, or signal failures, they offer a fantastic way to travel. However, achieving this requires political will to ensure long-term funding for railway expansion and maintenance."

"The Swedish Transport Administration, SJ, and private operators must collaborate to create a cohesive solution. Björn and I are actively working and advocating for this, part of which involves encouraging every step in the right direction through conversations and emails."

"Despite the difficult challenges along the way, we truly feel that we have everything to gain by trying!"

What does being a planet caretaker look like in your daily life

"It means that we strive to choose the most sustainable option in everything—from travel and consumption to investments and forestry. In practical terms, this means we only buy things we truly need and prefer to borrow whenever possible. We also try to swap and repair items whenever we can, always prioritizing quality over quantity."

How has your lifestyle changed, and what daily changes have you made?

"Flying on fossil-fueled planes is out, so instead, we travel by train, bus, or electric car. When going to the gym, school, or grocery store, we cycle year-round. At home, we eat more vegetarian meals than before and no longer buy meat—leftovers often turn into feast-worthy meals! "

"We no longer buy things impulsively but instead aim to borrow, rent, or buy second-hand. When it comes to finding great second-hand deals, our 13-year-old son, Dante, is an absolute pro at scouting bargains on different platforms. As for pension savings and investments, we make sure to invest in fossil-free companies."

How can others start making a difference for the environment?

– "Travel fossil-free."

– "Ensure that your pension savings and investments support companies with a strong sustainability profile—check out Fund Your Mother."

– "Eat less meat, minimize food waste, and only buy what you truly need."

Last but not least, what are your favorite Icebug shoes?

"Our 13-year-old son Dante wears a pair of Aura ReWool RB9X, while Björn’s favorites are the Pytho6 RB9X. I’ve been using a pair of Anima RB9X since 2012, but I have a new pair of Arcus 2 RB9X waiting to be broken in!"

Wir nutzen unser Unternehmen, um Gutes zu tun

Bei ICEBUG sind wir fest entschlossen, die besten Schuhe herzustellen, die dir helfen, jeden Tag bei jedem Wetter nach draußen zu gehen. Darüber hinaus möchten wir unsere Branche verändern, indem wir Verantwortung für unseren ökologischen Fußabdruck übernehmen. Unser Ziel ist es, Schuhe mit langer Haltbarkeit, geringen CO2-Emissionen und mit Respekt vor Mensch und Natur zu produzieren. Ein Teil des Geldes, das du in uns investierst, fließt zurück an unseren Planeten, indem wir Organisationen unterstützen, die beispielsweise alte Wälder schützen.