Stora Enso develops and produces solutions based on wood and biomass for a range of industries and applications worldwide, leading in the bioeconomy and supporting our customers in meeting demand for renewable eco-friendly products.

Africa: Northern Africa

America: Northern America, South America

Asia: Eastern Asia, Western Asia

Europe: Eastern Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Europe

Oceania: Australia and New Zealand

Stora Enso will contribute to the elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging, by cooperating with our customers and supply chain to provide innovative, circular, and low-carbon alternative solutions that are based on renewable fiber sourced from sustainably managed forests and plantations.

In this section, we highlight concrete examples of value chain actions, and new products that help contribute to the elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging. The cases may also touch upon non-packaging solutions to showcase the extent of our innovation and solution portfolio. Examples of value chain action in 2020:

• Together with Tetra Pak, Stora Enso is exploring the possibility of building a new recycling line for used beverage cartons (UBC) at its Ostrołeka Mill in Poland.

• During 2020 Stora Enso continued to explore the recycling potential of paperboard cups for magazine paper production at Langerbrugge Mill in Belgium.

• Stora Enso is part of the 4evergreen alliance – a European circular economy platform focusing on fiber-based packaging. The aim is to drive the recycling of fiber-based packaging and collaboration in circular design.

• Stora Enso and energy company Gasum have built a biogas plant at Stora Enso’s Nymölla paper mill in Sweden. The plant, built and operated by Gasum, turns the mill’s wastewater into Liquefied Biogas (LBG).

Examples of new products introduced in 2020:

• PureFiber™ by Stora Enso is a new range of ready-made formed fiber packages that are plastic- and PFAS-free and suitable for food service and consumer goods products. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/formed-fiber/purefiber-food-bowls

• Performa Light™ by Stora Enso is a plasticfree, lightweight and low-carbon material designed for chocolate boxes, as well as for packaging confectionery, cosmetics, and personal care products. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/paperboard-materials/folding-cartons/performa

• AvantForte™ by Stora Enso is a three-layer structured kraftliner for corrugated packaging, made from 100% virgin fibers. It meets brand owners’ need for high-performing, safe and plastic-free packaging while using less material. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/paperboard-materials/containerboard/avantforte

• The ePaperBag is a circular delivery solution that is tailor-made for e-commerce to meet the demands of eco-conscious online consumers. It is a reusable bag that is efficient in e-commerce logistics and can be used to replace plastic bags. Stora Enso will start production of e-commerce paper bags in October 2021. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/other-packaging-products/epaperbag

In this section, we highlight how our strategy and key investments and innovations contribute to our commitment. In 2020 Stora Enso updated its strategy. As the renewable materials company, our promise is that everything that can be made from fossil-based materials today can be made from a tree tomorrow. To accelerate this development, we are shaping our business to build on our leading positions and growth opportunities in packaging, building solutions and biomaterials innovations. Our forest, traditional wood products and market pulp are the foundation for value creation in our company. Packaging will represent a majority of Stora Enso’s growth, given the rising demand for sustainable packaging. We want to increase collaboration with brand owners, retailers and converting partners to drive the packaging innovation agenda and accelerate plastic substitution. Furthermore, we are speeding up the commercialisation of formed fiber, biofoam, biobarriers and films to replace fossil-based solutions.

New investments and innovations:

• The introduction of paperboard for tubes to reduce plastic in primary packaging of cosmetics was welcomed by our customers in several acceptance test projects. We are expecting to see the first paperboard tube on the market in early 2021. The body of the tube is made from Natura Shape™ by Stora Enso, which is 70% based on renewable raw material. For more information see: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/paperboard-materials/barrier-boards/innovations

• Stora Enso will build a pilot facility for producing a lightweight, fiber-based foam material that replaces oil-based polymer foams. Cellulose foam can be used as protective packaging and for cushioning of fragile products such as consumer electronics. The design and engineering of the pilot facility has started in 2020. It is estimated that the plant will be ready in the fourth quarter of 2021. Decisions about commercialisation will follow, after evaluating the results of the pilot-scale production. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020/8/stora-enso-to-build-a-pilot-plant-for-bio-based-packaging-foam

• Introduction of new dispersion barrier materials for paper cups and food packaging. The new dispersion barriers are fluorochemical-free and used to produce paperboard for cups and food service packaging without the traditional plastic layer. For more information see: https://www.storaenso.com/en/newsroom/news/2020/2/stora-enso-introduces-new-barrier-boards-to-replace-plastic-in-food-packaging

• In collaboration with Cordenka we are developing renewable and fossil-free carbon fiber for industrial applications requiring low weight and high mechanical performance, such as wind energy rotor blades. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020/5/stora-enso-and-cordenka-partner-to-develop-bio-based-carbon-fiber-materials

• Stora Enso is developing bio-based carbon materials by processing lignin into a carbon intermediate for electrode materials. By converting lignin into so-called hard carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. See for more information: https://www.storaenso.com/en/products/lignin/lignode

Total: $951 million

Knowledge (research and IP): 167 million

Fixed assets (plants and/or equipment, including technology): 784 million

We have included Stora Enso Group’s total R&D spend and Capital expenditure for financial year 2020. Below is an example of an investment specific to the scope of the commitment: In 2020 Stora Enso announced an investment in dispersion barrier technology. The investment of approximately EUR 10 million enables the development and production of paperboard with barrier properties that are easier to handle in a recycling process and can be compostable in industrial facilities.

Stora Enso uses third party verified LCA calculations to help substantiate its product environmental claims. Financial information is taken from our Financial Report audited by PwC.