Widely recognised as one of the world’s leading providers of renewable packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction products, the latest investment in Stora Enso’s Oulu (Finland) mill and production unit, tips its investment scales to just over €1.7bn between 2019 and 2025.
Responding to a growing global demand for renewable packaging and support of a circular bio-economy, the investment in the recently inaugurated production unit, has made it possible to convert former paper machines into board lines that use the latest technology, while the environmental impact has reportedly been reduced by cutting fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 90%.
The mill produces folding boxboard, kraftliners, paper bag material, and unbleached softwood pulp. Board materials are suitable for direct contact with food.
Almost all of the Oulu mill’s production is exported, so the production site also lends significant support to Finland’s international competitiveness and increases exports with products of higher added value.
Stora Enso President and CEO, Hans Sohlström, says: “The Oulu production site is a strategically significant investment as it strengthens our leading position in high added value renewable packaging materials and increases Finland’s export revenue significantly.”
Stora Enso President and CEO, Hans Sohlstrom“Consumer packaging made from wood fibres has great potential to replace plastic packaging and our materials are designed for existing recycling streams.”
“Our Oulu production site, now being nearly carbon-neutral, is a prime example of an investment in bio-economy, and it directly contributes to the global transition from fossil materials to renewable and recyclable packaging.”
Stora Enso’s new line is expected to reach its full capacity of 750,000 tonnes by 2027 at the latest, when the line's annual sales are anticipated to be approximately €800m.
The Oulu mill’s new production line utilises Stora Enso’s patented FiberLight Tec fibre processing technology, which enables the production of lighter, yet robust and durable boards.
Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso Oulu Business Unit, adds: “Our folding box board can be up to a third lighter than traditional boards, the material is efficient and durable and helps our customers to reduce the consumption of packaging material and at the same time reduce their transport emissions.”
“This means that they also have very high added value. Our mill’s location next to the deep port enables efficient logistics worldwide throughout the year. It is important for us to be involved in mitigating climate change.”
“We mainly use pulpwood purchased from private forest owners in Finland, small-diameter wood, and wood chips from our sawmills for board production. We also utilise bark and sawdust for energy production. The bioenergy produced in the mill is used for district heating in Oulu.”
