Stora Enso and FSC join forces in a strategic partnership

The partnership agreement aims to increase FSC certification, especially among small- and medium-sized private forest owners in the Nordics, Baltics, and across Europe. The aim is to increase the FSC certified wood supply.

The work undertaken within the partnership will make FSC certification more accessible, simpler to implement and easier to promote across the value chains that Stora Enso operates in.

The agreement covers a three-year period, commencing January 2019, with the first year’s focus on the Nordics.

“We work actively with our stakeholders to promote sustainable forest management,” said Noel Morrin, EVP Sustainability at Stora Enso.

“As a customer-centric renewable materials company, Stora Enso also wants to respond to its customers’ needs for FSC certified products.”

Stora Enso has been an FSC member since 1999. This new strategic partnership builds on their relationship to focus more on the key operational aspects of FSC in those countries where both organisations have an active presence.

It will seek to develop and promote forest certification as a key tool to improve the well-being of forests whilst providing increased supply sources for companies that want to source FSC Certified material.

“Improving solutions for small- and medium-sized forest owners to access responsible markets through FSC certification is essential for the success of our mission,” said Kim Carstensen, director general of FSC.

“Working together with Stora Enso will enable us to increase our engagement with and provide better support to a larger number and more diverse group of private forest owners, enabling them to implement FSC certification appropriately in their forests.”

In 2017, Stora Enso mills received 37.5 million m3 of wood, a significant share of which came from private forest owners.