{{Short description|Finnish and Swedish pulp and paper company}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Stora Enso Oyj | logo = Stora Enso.svg | logo_size = 90px | type = {{Lang|fi|Julkinen osakeyhtiö}} | traded_as = {{OMX|HEX24359|STEAV}}, {{OMXb|HEX24360|STERV}}<br/>{{OMX|SSE2169|STE A}}, {{OMXb|SSE2170|STE R}} | foundation = {{Start date and age|1998}} ({{Start date and age|1288}})<ref name=ft2015lastingcompanies/> | location = Helsinki, Finland | key_people = {{ill|Kari Jordan|fi|Kari Jordan}} (chair of the board),<ref name=bod/> {{Interlanguage link|Hans Sohlström|fi}} (CEO)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/investors/governance/group-leadership-team|title=Group Leadership Team|website=www.storaenso.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=2020-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218083452/https://www.storaenso.com/en/investors/governance/group-leadership-team|url-status=live}}</ref> | industry = Paper and packaging | products = Packaging materials, biomaterials, wooden construction and paper<ref name=AR2021/> | ISIN = {{ISIN|sl=n|pl=y|Helsinki}}: FI0009005953 and FI0009005961, Stockholm: FI0009007603 and FI0009007611<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instructions for insiders |url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/investors/governance/insiders/instructions-for-insiders |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.storaenso.com |language=en}}</ref> | owners = Solidium, FAM AB and others<ref name=owners>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/investors/shares-and-shareholders/shareholders-and-ownership-changes|title=Shareholders and ownership changes|website=www.storaenso.com|language=en|access-date=2024-06-24}}</ref> | revenue = {{decrease}} €9.396 billion (2023)<ref name=AR2023>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/-/media/documents/download-center/documents/annual-reports/2023/storaenso_annual_report_2023.pdf|title=Stora Enso Annual Report 2023, pages 4, 110, 135, 136 |access-date=24 June 2024}}</ref> | operating_income = {{decrease}} €342 million (2023)<ref name=AR2023/> | net_income = {{decrease}} €-431 million (2023)<ref name=AR2023/> | assets = {{decrease}} €20,754 million (2023)<ref name=AR2023/> | equity = {{decrease}} €10,889 million (2023)<ref name=AR2023/> | num_employees = {{decrease}} 20,000 (2023)<ref name=AR2023/> | homepage = {{URL|https://www.storaenso.com}} }}
'''Stora Enso Oyj''' (from {{langx|sv|Stora}} {{IPA|sv|ˈstǔːra|}} and {{langx|fi|Enso}} {{IPA|fi|ˈenso|}}) is a Finnish and Swedish forest industry company. It develops and produces various materials, mostly based on wood, for a range of industries and applications worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Stora Enso |url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=www.storaenso.com |language=en}}</ref> It has headquarters in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden. The majority of sales takes place in Europe, but there are also significant operations in Asia and South America. Stora Enso was formed in 1998, when the Swedish mining and forestry products company '''Stora AB''' merged with the Finnish forestry products company '''Enso Oyj'''.<ref name=storaensohistory>{{cite web|url=http://www.storaenso.com/about/history|title=History|website=Stora Enso|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=21 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621071054/http://www.storaenso.com/about/history|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, there were 20,000 employees.<ref name=AR2023/> In 2015, Stora Enso was ranked seventh in the world by sales and fourth by earnings, among forest, paper and packaging industry companies. For the first two quarters of 2018, the company was ranked second by net earnings among European forest and paper industry companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/assets/pwc-annual-fpp-industry-survey-2016-10.pdf|title=Global Forest, Paper & Packaging Industry Survey: 2016 edition survey of 2015 results|year=2016|publisher=PwC|access-date=10 December 2018|archive-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923002214/https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/assets/pwc-annual-fpp-industry-survey-2016-10.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/forest-paper-packaging/publications/482131-bc-fpp-quarterly-net-earnings-summary-report-q2-2018.pdf|title=Global Forest and Paper Industry Net Earnings Summary: Three months ended June 30, 2018|year=2018|first1=Kevin|last1=Bromley|first2=Frédéric|last2=Bouchard|publisher=PwC|access-date=10 December 2018|archive-date=14 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214214122/https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/forest-paper-packaging/publications/482131-bc-fpp-quarterly-net-earnings-summary-report-q2-2018.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The corporate history can be traced back to the oldest known preserved share certificate in the world, issued in 1288 by ''Stora Kopparberg''. Based on this, some observers consider Stora Enso to be the oldest limited liability company in the world.<ref name=ft2015lastingcompanies/><ref name=BBC20120119/>
== History == Stora Enso was formed by the merger of Swedish mining and forestry products company Stora and Finnish forestry products company Enso Oyj in 1998.<ref name=storaensohistory/>
=== History of Stora === [[File:Stora Kopparberg 1288.jpg|thumb|1/8 share of the Stora Kopparberg mine, dated 16 June 1288.]]
The oldest preserved share in the Swedish copper mining company ''Stora Kopparberg'' (Falun Mine) in Falun was issued in 1288. It granted the Bishop of Västerås 1/8th (12.5%) ownership, and it is also the oldest known preserved share in any company in the world. The corporate status of the company was further recognized in 1347, when King Magnus IV of Sweden granted it a charter. Some observers consider that these facts make Stora and its successor Stora Enso the oldest existing corporation or limited liability company in the world.<ref name=ft2015lastingcompanies/><ref name=BBC20120119>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16611040 |title=Can a company live forever? |work=BBC News |date=January 19, 2012 |access-date=June 20, 2018 |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007211906/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16611040 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ariedegeushbr1997/>
For some periods during the 17th century, the mine provided two thirds of the world production of copper. In the 18th century, the copper mining gradually decreased in importance, and therefore, in 1731, the company bought its first iron ore mine. By the 1860s, iron ore was economically more important to the company than copper.
''Stora Kopparbergs Bergslags AB'' was incorporated as a modern shareholder company in 1862. Towards the end of the 19th century, it diversified from mining and entered pulp and paper production. In the 1970s, most of the mining and steel mill operations of the company were divested, and the focus changed to forestry-related activities. In 1984, the company name was shortened to ''Stora AB''. The copper mine closed down in 1992.
In 1997, the year before the merger with Enso, Stora had 20,400 employees and a turnover of 44.5 billion SEK. The company owned 2.3 million hectares of forest of which 1.6 million hectares (an area larger than Connecticut) in Sweden and the rest in Canada, Portugal and Brazil. It also produced 7.5 TWh of mostly hydroelectric power.
A 1997 article in Harvard Business Review praised Stora's ability to adapt to changing circumstances over the centuries.<ref name=ft2015lastingcompanies>{{cite news|url=https://next.ft.com/content/9e3b2740-7ec2-11e5-a1fe-567b37f80b64|title=Founders' vision keeps engine running|date=10 November 2015|first=Brian|last=Groom|newspaper=Financial Times|access-date=16 November 2015|archive-date=26 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160626161506/https://next.ft.com/content/9e3b2740-7ec2-11e5-a1fe-567b37f80b64|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ariedegeushbr1997>{{cite journal|url=https://hbr.org/1997/03/the-living-company|title=The Living Company|year=1997|issue=March–April|pages=51–9|first=Arie|last=de Geus|journal=Harvard Business Review|volume=75|access-date=16 November 2015|pmid=10165449|archive-date=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211133627/https://hbr.org/1997/03/the-living-company|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 1998, the company merged with Enso to form Stora Enso.
=== History of Enso === [[File:Enso Gutzeit Helsinki panoramo.jpg|thumb|Headquarters built for Enso-Gutzeit Oy in the port area of Helsinki, designed by Alvar Aalto, 1962]]
====1850–1899==== The roots of Enso go back to the 1850s, when {{ill|Wilhelm Gutzeit|no}} started ''Wilh. Gutzeit & Co.'' in Norway. He was a native of Königsberg who had moved to Norway to work as a secretary for his step-cousin Benjamin Wegner, an industrialist. Only one of Gutzeit's five children survived to adulthood and thus his son Hans Gutzeit started to work with him in the 1860s and inherited the company in 1869. In 1871, he started to operate in Finland, together with Lars J. Bredesen, who was from Norway too. Gutzeit started a sawmill in Kotka in November 1872 and called it W. Gutzeit & Comp.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A>{{Cite book |last=Ahvenainen |first=Jorma |title=Enso-Gutzeit Oy, 1872–1992, part 1, 1872–1923 |publisher=Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy |year=1992 |isbn=952-9690-01-0 |location=Jyväskylä |pages=1, 13,16,19,23,129,198,201,229 |language=fi}}</ref> In 1897, the company became a Finnish company, and its name was changed to Aktiebolaget W. Gutzeit & Co.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A/>
====1900–1998====
As Gutzeit & Co bought Aktiebolaget Pankakoski in 1908 and Enso Träsliperi Ab in Jääski in 1911, the board production was added to company portfolio.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A/>
In 1918, the company shares were bought by Finland which became independent in 1917, and Gutzeit became fully state owned company.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A/>
In 1924, the company headquarters were moved from Kotka to Helsinki.<ref name=ahvenainen1992B>{{Cite book |last=Ahvenainen |first=Jorma |title=Enso-Gutzeit Oy, 1872–1992, part 2, 1924–1992 |publisher=Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy |year=1992 |isbn=952-9690-02-9 |location=Jyväskylä |pages=294, 317, 332, 481 |language=fi}}</ref> The company's name was changed to Enso-Gutzeit Osakeyhtiö in 1928.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A/>
The company started to build Kaukopää mill in Imatra in 1935. At the time it was the biggest sulfate pulp mill in Europe.<ref name=ahvenainen1992B/>
Summa paper mill in Hamina was taken into use in 1955.<ref name=ahvenainen1992B/>
The company's name was changed to Enso-Gutzeit Oy in 1981.<ref name=ahvenainen1992A/>
Enso-Gutzeit bought A. Ahlström Osakeyhtiö's forest industries at Varkaus in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-07-24 |title=Varkauden paperitehtaan kohtalo hämmentää |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/varkauden_paperitehtaan_kohtalo_hammentaa/5289039 |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
In 1993, the company bought units from Tampella, Tampella Forest Oy and Tambox Europe's units from Finland and Sweden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pentti |first=Laitinen |date=1993-10-28 |title=Myös Enso-Gutzeit pääsi selvästi voitolle Yhtyneille täpärä voitto metsäyhtiöiden katekilvassa |url=https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000003278834.html |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
In 1996, two state owned forest companies were merged and Enso-Gutzeit Oy and Veitsiluoto Oy from North Finland became Enso Oyj.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-29 |title=Toni Mathlinin lapsuudessa "kaikki" työskentelivät Veitsiluodossa, tänään valmistui viimeinen rulla ja paperitehdas Kemissä suljetaan |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12119307 |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
In 1997, it acquired a majority stake in the German forestry company {{ill|E. Holtzmann & Cie.|de}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Päivi |first=Isotalus |date=1997-04-29 |title=Enson Holtzmann-kauppa toteutuu 3,6 miljardilla Yhtiö halusi päällystämättömän aikakauslehtipaperin valikoimaansa |url=https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000003620108.html |access-date=2022-04-22 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
In 1998, the company merged with Stora to form Stora Enso.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-11-19 |title=EU:n komissio hyväksymässä Storan ja Enson liiton |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/eun_komissio_hyvaksymassa_storan_ja_enson_liiton/5178591 |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
=== History of Stora Enso === ==== 1998–2009 ==== After the merger, Stora Enso expanded its operations by acquiring wood products businesses and bought paper merchant businesses in Europe. In 2000, the company bought Consolidated Papers in North America. Stora Enso also slowly expanded its operations in South America, Asia and Russia.
In 2000, Stora Enso acquired the North American pulp and paper manufacturer Consolidated Papers for EUR 4.9 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040501135139/http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/02/22/20000222BIT00040/bit0002.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2004|url=http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/02/22/20000222BIT00040/bit0002.pdf|title=Stora Enso to acquire Consolidated Papers for EUR 4.9 billion|publisher=Stora Enso|website=Bit|date=22 February 2000}}</ref> The acquisition has, in hindsight, been noted in the financial press as a massive value destroyer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://lib.tkk.fi/Reports/2010/isbn9789526032658.pdf |title=The assumptions behind an acquisition: Case Stora Enso - Consolidated Papers |year=2010 |publisher=Aalto University |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073517/http://lib.tkk.fi/Reports/2010/isbn9789526032658.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aalto.fi/en/current/current_archive/news/2010-07-14/ |title=A study reviews the reasons for the failure of the American merger of Stora Enso |date=14 July 2010 |format=PDF |publisher=Aalto University |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211110038/http://www.aalto.fi/en/current/current_archive/news/2010-07-14/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, Stora Enso and AssiDomän formed a joint company, Billerud AB, to produce packaging paper.
In 2002, Stora Enso started investigating the possibility of establishing plantations and production facilities in Guangxi, China.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2002/06/10/daily27.html |title=Stora Enso explores supply, plant options in China |date=12 June 2002 |newspaper=Milwaukee Business Journal |access-date=8 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fjaTmhXxU24C&q=stora+enso+guangxi+2002&pg=PT31 |title=Timber |first1=Peter |last1=Dauvergne |first2=Jane |last2=Lister |year=2013 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |access-date=8 December 2015 |isbn=9780745637693 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100538/https://books.google.com/books?id=fjaTmhXxU24C&pg=PT31&lpg=PT31&dq=stora+enso+guangxi+2002 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In recent years,{{When|date=December 2015}} the company has gone through heavy restructuring. The North American operations were divested in 2007 to NewPage Corporation. Stora Enso has sold and closed down some of its mills in Finland, Sweden and Germany. The closure of a plant in Kemijärvi in 2008 and subsequent events were subject to significant Finnish media coverage.<ref>Valtion rahoittama liimapuutehdas pysähtyi 24.1.2012 B3</ref><ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/kho_hylkasi_stora_enson_valituksen_-_kemijarven_jatealtaan_puhdistus_selvitettava/6798082 KHO hylkäsi Stora Enson valituksen - Kemijärven jätealtaan puhdistus selvitettävä] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906033638/http://yle.fi/uutiset/kho_hylkasi_stora_enson_valituksen_-_kemijarven_jatealtaan_puhdistus_selvitettava/6798082 |date=2013-09-06 }} yle 28.8.2013</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://neurope.eu/article/stora-enso-sells-part-kemijarvi-mill-anaika/ |title=Stora Enso sells part of Kemijarvi mill to Anaika |date=2 February 2008 |newspaper=New Europe |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=6 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306073557/http://neurope.eu/article/stora-enso-sells-part-kemijarvi-mill-anaika/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2009, Stora Enso entered into a joint venture in Uruguay, called Montes del Plata, with access to 250,000 hectares of woodland and the intention to build a large-capacity mill.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/stora-and-arauco-spend-344-million-in-forest-deal/?_r=1 |title=Stora and Arauco Spend $344 Million in Forest Deal |date=18 May 2009 |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100538/https://dealbook.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/stora-and-arauco-spend-344-million-in-forest-deal/?_r=1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ence-stora-idUSLI62033420090518#Ll3h75Dt3Q28ZtP8.97 |title=Stora Enso buys Uruguay paper assets from Ence |date=18 May 2009 |newspaper=Reuters |first1=Tracy |last1=Rucinski |first2=Eva |last2=Lamppu |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211104158/http://www.reuters.com/article/ence-stora-idUSLI62033420090518#Ll3h75Dt3Q28ZtP8.97 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://next.ft.com/content/fff90682-235f-11e0-8389-00144feab49a |title=Papermakers to build $1.9bn pulp mill |date=19 January 2011 |first=Andrew |last=Ward |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100539/https://www.ft.com/content/fff90682-235f-11e0-8389-00144feab49a |url-status=live }}</ref>
==== 2010–2019 ==== In 2010, Stora Enso acquired a 30 per cent stake in the Chinese printed paper packaging manufacturer Inpac.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2010/10/31/66068/actis-sells-inpac-international-stora-enso |title=Actis sells Inpac International to Stora Enso |date=31 October 2010 |newspaper=Private Equity Wire |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211073359/http://www.privateequitywire.co.uk/2010/10/31/66068/actis-sells-inpac-international-stora-enso |url-status=live }}</ref>
In September 2012, Stora Enso signed an agreement with Packages Ltd., the largest packaging company of Pakistan, to set up a joint venture named Bulleh Shah Packaging (Pvt.) Ltd. at Kasur, Pakistan. The ownership stake for Stora Enso was 35 per cent.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stora Enso and Packages Ltd creates joint venture|url=https://www.pulpapernews.com/20190804/4593/stora-enso-and-packages-ltd-creates-joint-venture|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.pulpapernews.com|language=sv}}</ref> In 2017, the stake was sold back to Packages Ltd., at a loss of EUR 19 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vehviläinen|first=Maija|title=Stora Enso luopuu osuudestaan Pakistanin-yhtiöstä: 19 miljoonan myyntitappio|url=https://www.talouselama.fi/uutiset/stora-enso-luopuu-osuudestaan-pakistanin-yhtiosta-19-miljoonan-myyntitappio/2aed94b6-4afb-37cc-ba72-8f7be8fff7fd|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Talouselämä|date=26 July 2017 |language=fi}}</ref><ref name=pakistantodayprofit201707>{{cite news |url=https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/07/26/stora-enso-offloads-35pc-equity-stake-in-bulleh-shah-packaging-ltd/ |title=Stora Enso offloads 35pc equity stake in Bulleh Shah Packaging Ltd |date=26 July 2017 |newspaper=Pakistan Today Profit |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172718/https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2017/07/26/stora-enso-offloads-35pc-equity-stake-in-bulleh-shah-packaging-ltd/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=packaginggateway201707>{{cite news |url=https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/stora-enso-to-sell-35-interest-in-pakistans-bulleh-shah-packaging-5884007/ |title=Stora Enso to sell 35% share in Pakistan's Bulleh Shah Packaging |date=26 July 2017 |newspaper=Packaging Gateway |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173827/https://www.packaging-gateway.com/news/stora-enso-to-sell-35-interest-in-pakistans-bulleh-shah-packaging-5884007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=packnewspakistan201709>{{cite news |url=https://www.packnews.se/default.asp?id=12144&show=more |title=Stora Enso har sålt sitt ägande i Bulleh Shah Packaging Ltd |date=19 September 2017 |first=Jerry |last=Pettersson |language=sv |newspaper=Packnews.se |access-date=10 December 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Between 2006 and 2014, the share of paper products of the total sales decreased from 62 per cent to 38 per cent, while packaging and wood products increased their shares of the revenue, as the company, according to Bloomberg News, was "betting on renewable packaging as online shopping grows." In 2015, the ''Financial Times'' and Bloomberg News reported that Stora Enso was investing in biomaterials and renewable construction products as possible future growth areas.<ref name=ft2015lastingcompanies/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-02/finnish-papermakers-embrace-online-world-as-10-year-slump-ends |title=Finnish Papermakers Embrace Online World as Slump Ends |date=3 March 2015 |first=Kasper |last=Viita |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211140733/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-02/finnish-papermakers-embrace-online-world-as-10-year-slump-ends |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-22/biomaterials-may-be-next-growth-engine-for-paper-industry |title=Biomaterials May Be Next Growth Engine for Paper Industry |date=22 September 2015 |first=Anna |last=Hirtenstein |publisher=Bloomberg News |access-date=16 November 2015 |archive-date=6 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106062129/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-22/biomaterials-may-be-next-growth-engine-for-paper-industry |url-status=live }}</ref>
By 2016 Stora Enso owned 90 per cent of Inpac.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.euwid-paper.com/news/singlenews/Artikel/stora-enso-to-increase-stake-in-inpac-packaging-to-90.html |title=Stora Enso to increase stake in Inpac Packaging to 90% |date=4 January 2016 |publisher=EUWID Europäischer Wirtschaftsdienst |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172008/https://www.euwid-paper.com/news/singlenews/Artikel/stora-enso-to-increase-stake-in-inpac-packaging-to-90.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In July 2017, the Financial Times reiterated that a focus on renewable packaging, biomaterials and construction products formed part of the strategic direction of Stora Enso, while also reporting that the revenue from paper had decreased further to 30 per cent of the total sales. It also reported that the current and foreseeable market conditions were such that forestry industry companies in general received and could be expected to receive comparatively low shares of their profits from paper production.<ref name=ft2017papergroups>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/29c39b4c-6073-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895 |title=Paper groups seek salvation in renewables shift |date=5 July 2017 |first=Richard |last=Milne |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173726/https://www.ft.com/content/29c39b4c-6073-11e7-91a7-502f7ee26895 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2018, Stora Enso, along with 23 other Finnish and Swedish companies, formed a joint venture named ''Combient'' for research and knowledge sharing in the areas of artificial intelligence, deep learning, big data and automation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a23a2426-6976-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec |title=Europe left playing catch-up in artificial intelligence |date=6 June 2018 |first=Richard |last=Milne |newspaper=Financial Times |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173533/https://www.ft.com/content/a23a2426-6976-11e8-8cf3-0c230fa67aec |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nordic.businessinsider.com/two-dozen-of-finlands-and-swedens-biggest-companies-are-forming-an-ai-alliance--its-a-world-first--/ |title=Two dozen Finnish and Swedish industry giants are forming an AI alliance – 'It's a world-first' |date=25 April 2018 |first=Gita |last=Nair |newspaper=Business Insider Nordic |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173630/https://nordic.businessinsider.com/two-dozen-of-finlands-and-swedens-biggest-companies-are-forming-an-ai-alliance--its-a-world-first--/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Examples of notable products launched in 2017–2019 were *cardboard-based packaging under the name ''EcoFishBox'' as an alternative to polystyrene boxes for transportation of fresh fish,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.greenerpackage.com/adhesives_coating_inks/pet-coated_case_fish_wins_worldstar_award |title=PET-coated case for fish wins WorldStar Award |date=12 June 2017 |first=Anne Marie |last=Mohan |newspaper=Greener Package |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=9 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009065704/https://www.greenerpackage.com/adhesives_coating_inks/pet-coated_case_fish_wins_worldstar_award |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://flexo-gravure.com/industry-news/stora-enso-gold-sustainability-award-for-ecofishbox/ |title=Stora Enso – Gold sustainability award for EcoFishBox |date=1 June 2017 |newspaper=Flexo & Gravure Global |access-date=11 December 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.paperindustryworld.com/ecofishbox-by-stora-enso-won-quality-innovation-award/ |title=EcoFishBox by Stora Enso won Quality Innovation Award |date=3 May 2018 |newspaper=Paper Industry World |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171627/http://www.paperindustryworld.com/ecofishbox-by-stora-enso-won-quality-innovation-award/ |url-status=live }}</ref> *industrial-scale supply of lignin under the name ''Lineo'' as an alternative to phenol-based adhesives,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2018/02/20/stora-enso-launches-lineo-to-provide-biobased-alternatives-for-fossil-based-materials/ |title=Stora Enso launches Lineo to provide biobased alternatives for fossil-based materials |date=20 February 2018 |first=Meghan |last=Sapp |newspaper=Biofuels Digest |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215175239/https://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2018/02/20/stora-enso-launches-lineo-to-provide-biobased-alternatives-for-fossil-based-materials/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://bioplasticsnews.com/2018/03/05/stora-enso-lignin-based-phenol/ |title=Stora Enso launches lignin-based phenol |date=5 March 2018 |author=LEPITREB |newspaper=Bioplastics News |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215175010/https://bioplasticsnews.com/2018/03/05/stora-enso-lignin-based-phenol/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.compositesworld.com/news/lineo-by-stora-enso-wins-bio-based-product-of-the-year-award |title=Lineo by Stora Enso wins Bio-Based Product of the Year award |date=23 March 2018 |first=Scott |last=Francis |newspaper=CompositesWorld |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173214/https://www.compositesworld.com/news/lineo-by-stora-enso-wins-bio-based-product-of-the-year-award |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.environmenttimes.co.uk/news/item/664-stora-enso-launch-renewable-lignin-tree-product-to-replace-oil-based-glue |title=Stora Enso launch renewable lignin tree product to replace oil-based glue |date=18 April 2018 |newspaper=Environment Times |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215173818/http://www.environmenttimes.co.uk/news/item/664-stora-enso-launch-renewable-lignin-tree-product-to-replace-oil-based-glue |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.packnews.se/default.asp?id=12923&show=more&titel=Stora-Enso-lanserar-lignin-som-ersätter-fossilmaterial |title=Stora Enso lanserar lignin som ersätter fossilmaterial |date=13 February 2018 |first=Jerry |last=Pettersson |language=sv |newspaper=Packnews.se |access-date=11 December 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> * prototypes of biodegradable drinking straws,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/04/business/04reuters-environment-plastics-straws.html |title=Finnish Firms to Tackle Plastic Pollution With Renewable Straws |date=4 December 2018 |agency=Reuters |newspaper=New York Times |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-date=15 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215172825/https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/04/business/04reuters-environment-plastics-straws.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.compelo.com/packaging/news/stora-enso-sulapac-straws/ |title=Stora Enso, Sulapac collaborate to develop biodegradable straws |date=4 December 2018 |newspaper=Compelo Packaging |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032116/https://www.compelo.com/packaging/news/stora-enso-sulapac-straws/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.paperage.com/2018news/12_06_2018stora_enso_sulapac.html |title=Stora Enso and Sulapac Launch Biodegradable Drinking Straw at Slush 2018 |date=6 December 2018 |newspaper=PaperAge |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206223118/http://www.paperage.com/2018news/12_06_2018stora_enso_sulapac.html |url-status=live }}</ref> DuraSense biocomposites which enable the use of renewable wood-based fibres which can be used as substitutes for fossil-based plastic,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10205673|title=Stora Enso tuo markkinoille muovin korvaavan biokomposiitin|website=Yle Uutiset|date=15 May 2018 |language=fi|access-date=2019-06-13|archive-date=2019-05-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511150636/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10205673|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.retriever-info.com/go/?p=&a=43273&d=050848201806078bccea5f2c639e8f1263a0f273aea187&sa=2026454&x=14d7a3886bc8331b71b3b1adb682010e&s=50848|title=Nu mixar bruket plast och naturfiber - Hallands Nyheter - Nyhetsklipp 2018-06-07 - Retriever|website=web.retriever-info.com|access-date=2019-06-13}}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and *a new retail solution which merges in-store and online shopping through RFID-enabled e-kiosks. The service is offered in co-operation with Atos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uutisvuoksi.fi/uutiset/lahella/68fd39db-5c49-40a4-b411-eda6ec1e2ffc|title=Stora Enso haluaa tuotteensa e-kioskeihin — Metsäjätti sai uuden kumppanin kansainvälisestä digiyhtiö Atoksesta - Uutisvuoksi|last=Oy|first=Kaakon Viestintä|date=2019-11-12|website=uutisvuoksi.fi|language=fi|access-date=2020-02-18|archive-date=2020-02-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218122913/https://uutisvuoksi.fi/uutiset/lahella/68fd39db-5c49-40a4-b411-eda6ec1e2ffc|url-status=live}}</ref>
==== 2020–present ====
In the beginning of 2020, Stora Enso started a new division called Forest. It included<ref name=divisions/> *Stora Enso's forest assets in Sweden *the 41% share of Tornator with the majority of its forest assets located in Finland *wood supply operations in Finland, Sweden, Russia and the Baltic countries.
In July 2021, Stora Enso informed that it was selling its RFID tag technology called ECO<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2018/11/07/paperijatilta-muoviton-rfid-tunniste-alypakkauksiin/|title=Paperijätiltä muoviton RFID-tunniste älypakkauksiin|date=2018-11-07|website=Uusiteknologia.fi|language=fi|access-date=2019-06-13|archive-date=2020-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100603/https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2018/11/07/paperijatilta-muoviton-rfid-tunniste-alypakkauksiin/|url-status=live}}</ref> to Grupo CCRR.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MarketScreener |title=GRUPO CCRR signed an agreement to acquire ECO RFID-Technology Business of Stora Enso from Stora Enso Oyj. {{!}} MarketScreener |url=https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/STORA-ENSO-OYJ-1412452/news/GRUPO-CCRR-signed-an-agreement-to-acquire-ECO-RFID-Technology-Business-of-Stora-Enso-from-Stora-Enso-35954761/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.marketscreener.com |date=21 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
In March 2022, Stora Enso announced its intention to sell four paper mills located in Anjala in Finland, Hylte and Nymölla in Sweden and Maxau in Germany. If no buyer could be found, the company would continue to run the mills.<ref name=yle20220329>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-29 |title=Stora Enso myy neljä paperitehdasta, joista yksi sijaitsee Suomessa – Anjalan tehtaan pääluottamusmies: "Ihmiset pohtivat, miten tässä oikein käy" |url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-12380434 |access-date=2022-04-05 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
== Market ==
=== Products and services by division ===
In 2021, Stora Enso offer products and services through six corporate divisions.<ref name=divisions>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso/our-divisions|title=Our divisions|website=www.storaenso.com|language=en|access-date=2021-05-03|archive-date=2020-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518025502/https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso/our-divisions|url-status=live}}</ref>
*The '''Biomaterials''' division sells pulp, as well as additional products that can be extracted biochemically from wood and other sorts of biomass. *The '''Packaging materials''' division sells varieties of paperboard for packaging of dry and liquid products, including food, as well as for graphic printing purposes. *The '''Forest''' division has wood supply operations in Finland, Sweden, Russia and the Baltic countries.<ref name=divisions/> *The '''Packaging solutions''' division sells corrugated fiberboard, other types of paperboard used in production of packaging containers, as well as complete packaging boxes and equipment and services related to packaging production. *The '''Paper''' division sells paper for commercial printing and office use, as well as services for the printing industry, such as paper supply management. *The '''Wood products''' division sells construction materials that have been produced using wood as a raw material.
In 2021, the sales figures and relative contributions to group earnings by divisions were:<ref name=AR2021>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/-/media/documents/download-center/documents/annual-reports/2021/storaenso_annual_report_2021.pdf|title=Stora Enso Annual Report 2021, pages 6, 9, 58, 59, 67, 68, 71|access-date=23 March 2022}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Sales by division 2021, million EUR ! External ! Internal ! Total |- | Packaging materials | 3,715 | 183 | 3,898 |- | Packaging solutions | 704 | 19 | 723 |- | Biomaterials | 1,499 | 229 | 1,728 |- | Wood products | 1,766 | 106 | 1,872 |- | Forest | 781 | 1,530 | 2,311 |- | Paper | 1,644 | 59 | 1,703 |- | Other | 55 | 1,037 | 1,092 |}
== Operations == [[File:Heinolan flutingtehdas.JPG|thumb|A fluting factory of Stora Enso in Heinola, Finland]] Stora Enso has the majority of its operations in Europe.<ref name=AR2021/> In 2021 *26% of the personnel worked in Finland, *22% in Sweden, *13% in China, *9% in Poland, *5% in Czech Republic, *5% in Russia and *4% in Austria. *13% of the employees worked in other European countries (for example in Baltic states, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain), 3% in Brazil and Uruguay, and 1% in other countries.<ref name=AR2021/>
=== Headquarters === The first Stora Enso headquarters in Helsinki was designed by Alvar Aalto as the head office of Enso-Gutzeit Oy. The building was taken into use in 1961. In 2008, Stora Enso sold the building to the German property company Deka Immobilien GmbH for €30 million and started renting the building, while also declaring its intention to move to other rented premises in the Helsinki area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taloussanomat.fi/kotimaa/2008/06/09/stora-enso-myy-paakonttorinsa/200815546/12 |title=Stora Enso myy pääkonttorinsa |language=fi |access-date=16 November 2015 |website=Taloussanomat |date=9 June 2008 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211141636/http://www.taloussanomat.fi/kotimaa/2008/06/09/stora-enso-myy-paakonttorinsa/200815546/12 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In December 2021, it was announced that the construction of Stora Enso's new headquarters in Katajanokka had started. Other office space and a hotel were also planned for the building, which is owned by the occupational pension company Varma. The building was due to be completed in spring 2024. Stora Enso moved to a temporary headquarters in a property owned by Varma in Salmisaari.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-25 |title=Rakentaminen {{!}} Joku näistä kuudesta vaihtoehdosta on Stora Enson uusi pääkonttori, joka nousee Helsingin paraatipaikalle Katajanokalla |url=https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/art-2000006518067.html |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Stora Enson pääkonttorin rakentaminen alkaa |url=https://www.storaenso.com/fi-fi/newsroom/news/2021/12/stora-enson-paakonttorin-rakentaminen-alkaa |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.storaenso.com |language=fi-FI}}</ref>
=== Joint ventures ===
Veracel is a joint venture between Stora Enso (50 percent ownership) and Suzano Papel e Celulose in Brazil.<ref name=AR2021/>
In Uruguay, Stora Enso (50 percent ownership) and Celulosa Arauco y Constitución operate the Montes del Plata joint venture.<ref name=AR2021/>
== Governance ==
=== Key people ===
Hans Sohlström, CEO <ref name="bloomberg.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-18/stora-enso-names-hans-sohlstrom-as-ceo-with-annica-bresky-leaving |title=Stora Names New CEO as Demand Headwinds Hurt Packaging Firm |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2023-09-18 |access-date=2023-12-23}}</ref>
Previous CEOs were
*Annica Bresky (from 2019- 2023)<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> *Karl-Henrik Sundström (from 2014 to 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-26|title=Stora Enson toimitusjohtaja Karl-Henrik Sundström jättää yhtiön ensi vuonna|url=https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000006217311.html|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Helsingin Sanomat|language=fi}}</ref> *Jouko Karvinen (from 2007 to 2014)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stora Enson toimitusjohtaja Karvinen eroaa – "arvostettu, vaikka virheitä ollut"|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/stora_enson_toimitusjohtaja_karvinen_eroaa__arvostettu_vaikka_virheita_ollut/7202557|access-date=2021-05-03|website=Yle Uutiset|date=23 April 2014 |language=fi}}</ref> and *Jukka Härmälä (from the creation of Stora Enso in 1998 to 2007).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/8629|title=Härmälä, Jukka(1946 - )|access-date=2021-05-03|website=kansallisbiografia.fi}}</ref>
The board of directors in 2024: Kari Jordan (chair of board), Håkan Buskhe (vice chair of the board), Elisabeth Fleuriot, Helena Hedblom, Astrid Hermann, Christiane Kuehne, Richard Nilsson, and Reima Rytsölä.<ref name=bod>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/investors/governance/board-of-directors|title=Board of directors|website=www.storaenso.com|language=en|access-date=2024-06-24}}</ref>
=== Ownership ===
In May 2024, the Finnish state was, through the state-owned Solidium fund and Social Insurance Institution of Finland, the largest owner by number of shares, while the Wallenberg family foundations, through FAM AB, was the second largest. These two owners were also the largest ones by number of votes.<ref name=owners/>
The five biggest owners on 31 May 2024 were:<ref name=owners/> #Solidium Oy #FAM AB #Social Insurance Institution of Finland (KELA) # Ilmarinen Mutual Pension Insurance Company # Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company
=== Language ===
Following the merger, English became the lingua franca of the company. A study of the implications of this for the effectiveness of Stora Enso's internal business communication, published in the academic journal Business Communication Quarterly, concluded that the analyzed communication "seemed to work well".<ref>{{cite journal|last=Kankaanranta|first=Anne|journal=Business Communication Quarterly|year=2006|volume=69|issue=2|page=216|title="Hej Seppo, Could you pls comment on this!"—Internal email communication in lingua franca English in a multinational company|doi=10.1177/108056990606900215|s2cid=168080041|url=http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:951-39-2320-7|access-date=2020-09-13|archive-date=2020-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003100601/https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/18895|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Controversies ==
=== Cartel === Metsä Group and Stora Enso were fined €500,000 for forming a cartel in 2001.<ref>Asfalttikartelli kohta tuomilla, Talouselämä 9.6.2006 s. 10 (Finland's Talouselämä newspaper)</ref>
=== Accusations of wrongful accounting === The North American part of the group was sold in 2007 to NewPage Corporation with a net loss of about 4.12 billion dollars.{{clarify|date=December 2015|reason=The loss is stated in dollars, without reference to the exchange rate used, and without specifying whose estimate it is or when it was done. Online searces have not yielded any source for the amount.}} According to a Swedish television documentary, there have been accusations that to cover the loss, the accounting was manipulated, which was revealed in 2010.<ref name=dokumentinifran2013>[http://www.svt.se/dokument-inifran/dubbel-bokforing Dokument inifrån] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611043649/http://www.svt.se/dokument-inifran/dubbel-bokforing |date=2013-06-11 }}, Dubbel bokföring, 2013-05-16</ref>{{clarify|date=December 2015|reason=The text says the alleged manipulation was revealed in 2010 but cites a source that seems to be from 2013.}} The documentary also claims that huge{{Vague|date=December 2015}} dividend payments were made illegally and top management was aware of that fact and on purpose manipulated numbers to be able to pay dividends.
Gerard Goodwyn, the company's head of accounting who spoke publicly about the accounting mistake, was fired in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/stora_enso_accounting_mistake_was_human_error/6869657 |title=Stora Enso: Accounting mistake was "human error" |date=7 October 2013 |access-date=2014-04-23 |archive-date=2014-02-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223045538/http://yle.fi/uutiset/stora_enso_accounting_mistake_was_human_error/6869657 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2013, Stora Enso published a report written by independent law firms, which the company had commissioned to investigate the accusations. According to the report, the investigations performed did not find any evidence of illegal acts or wrongful financial reporting, apart from mistakes that had already been communicated and corrected by 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsclient.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=575657&lang=sv |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185924/https://newsclient.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=575657&lang=sv |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live |date=7 October 2013 |title=Stora Enso publicerar sammanfattande extern rapport av utredningar angående anklagelser gällande äldre redovisningsfrågor |publisher=Stora Enso |language=sv |access-date=8 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://newsclient.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?showInline=true&messageAttachmentId=446384 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191226/https://newsclient.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?showInline=true&messageAttachmentId=446384 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live |date=4 October 2013 |first1=Tomas |last1=Lindholm |first2=Nina |last2=Isokorpi |first3=Vesa |last3=Rasinaho |title=Report on investigations on certain accounting issues|publisher=Stora Enso |format=PDF |access-date=8 December 2015}}</ref> The findings of the investigations were also reported to the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority, which found no reason to take further action. In articles commenting on the report, the Finnish newspaper ''Helsingin Sanomat'' stated that they had been contacted by the source of the accusations in 2010 but that, after attempting to confirm the accusations, they had not considered that there were sufficient grounds for a news story.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hs.fi/talous/a1381120511065 |date=8 October 2013 |first=Jyrki |last=Iivonen |title=Selvitykset vapauttavat Stora Enson väitetystä kirjanpidon peukaloinnista |trans-title=Reports free Stora Enso from the alleged tampering in accounting |language=fi |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=12 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212053526/http://www.hs.fi/talous/a1381120511065 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hs.fi/talous/a1381120327039 |date=8 October 2013 |title=Lähde otti yhteyttä Helsingin Sanomiin |trans-title=The source contacted Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=8 December 2015 |archive-date=12 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212053523/http://www.hs.fi/talous/a1381120327039 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Environmental controversies === Stora Enso’s involvement in eucalyptus plantations has been the subject of long‑standing criticism and legal cases. Environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and researchers have raised concerns about the ecological and social impacts of large‑scale monoculture eucalyptus operations. Documented issues include:
* '''Deforestation of native ecosystems''' such as the Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s most biodiverse regions * '''Loss of biodiversity''' due to monoculture practices that replace diverse habitats with single‑species plantations * '''Water depletion and soil degradation''', as eucalyptus trees consume large amounts of groundwater and leave soils arid * '''Social conflicts with local and Indigenous communities''', including land disputes, restricted access, and reports of violence
==== Brazil ==== In Brazil, Stora Enso operates through its joint venture Veracel Celulose in Bahia, which it co‑owns with Suzano Papel e Celulose.<ref>{{cite web |title=Veracel Celulose |url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso/our-businesses/biomaterials/veracel-celulose |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Stora Enso}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Veracel Celulose |url=https://www.suzano.com.br/en/veracel/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Suzano}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=31 July 2018 |title=Stora Enso in Brazil |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-storaenso-brazil-idUSKBN1KZ1XK |access-date=3 December 2025 |work=Reuters}}</ref>
The company has faced dozens of court cases and criticism from NGOs and Indigenous leaders for deforestation and improper licensing resulting in land conflicts with local communities.<ref>{{cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=Veracel Celulose, Stora Enso's subsidiary, Brazil |url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/veracel-celulose-brazil |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Environmental Justice Atlas |publisher=Ej Atlas}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=24 July 2008 |title=Brazil: Historic federal court decision sentences Veracel Celulose (Stora Enso-Aracruz) for environmental violations |url=https://www.wrm.org.uy/other-information/brazil-historic-federal-court-decision-sentences-veracel-celulose-stora-enso-aracruz-for-environmental-violations |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=World Rainforest Movement}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Veracel destroys rainforests and arable land in favour of cheap paper |url=https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/765/veracel-destroys-rainforests-and-arable-land-in-favour-of-cheap-paper |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Rainforest Rescue}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Uruba Pataxó |date=2023 |title=The environmental crimes of Stora Enso: A testimony from Brazil |url=https://jordensvanner.se/the-environmental-crimes-of-stora-enso-a-testimony-from-brazil/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Jordens Vänner}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=10 November 2025 |title=COP30: Ativistas ocupam escritório da Stora Enso para denunciar violações de direitos humanos e ambientais sofridas pelos Pataxó |url=https://cimi.org.br/2025/11/cop30-ocupa-escritorio-da-stora-enso-veracel-pataxo/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Cimi}}</ref>
A landmark federal court appeal ruling in July 2025 overturned the 2008 judgment (Civil Appeal No. 0005009‑29.2006.4.01.3310),<ref name=":0">{{cite web |date=10 July 2025 |title=TRF1 – Processo Veracel Celulose |url=https://www.trf1.jus.br/trf1/processos/veracel-celulose |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Tribunal Regional Federal da 1ª Região |publisher=TRF1}}</ref> The court ruled that when Veracel cleared Atlantic Forest land in 1993, Brazilian law didn't explicitly require environmental impact studies for eucalyptus plantations—only for native forest logging—so 'technically' they broke no rules.
According to the July 10, 2025 TRF1 ruling, CONAMA Resolution 001/1986 explicitly required EIA/RIMA for 'economic exploitation of wood or firewood' but 'was silent regarding silviculture,' which the judge interpreted to mean eucalyptus plantations were not subject to the requirement.<ref name=":0" />
Investigations and reports on the environmental harm are well documented an include those by Swedwatch,<ref>{{cite web |date=2009 |title=Swedish Pulp in Brazil: The case of Veracel |url=https://swedwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/swedwatch-thecaseofveracel.pdf |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Swedwatch}}</ref> Finnwatch,<ref>{{cite web |date=25 April 2009 |title=Stora Enso etelän eukalyptusmailla |url=https://finnwatch.org/images/storaensonet.pdf |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Finnwatch}}</ref> Rainforest Rescue,<ref>{{cite web |title=Veracel destroys rainforests and arable land in favour of cheap paper |url=https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/765/veracel-destroys-rainforests-and-arable-land-in-favour-of-cheap-paper |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Rainforest Rescue}}</ref> Jordens Vänner (Friends of the Earth Sweden),<ref>{{cite web |author=Uruba Pataxó |date=2023 |title=The environmental crimes of Stora Enso: A testimony from Brazil |url=https://jordensvanner.se/the-environmental-crimes-of-stora-enso-a-testimony-from-brazil/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Jordens Vänner}}</ref> the Environmental Justice Atlas,<ref>{{cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=Veracel Celulose, Stora Enso's subsidiary, Brazil |url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/veracel-celulose-brazil |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Environmental Justice Atlas}}</ref> and the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre<ref>{{cite web |title=Stora Enso: Allegations of environmental & human rights abuses in Brazil |url=https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/stora-enso-allegations-of-environmental-human-rights-abuses-in-brazil/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Business & Human Rights Resource Centre}}</ref>.
There continues to be public protests and international investigative journalism highlighting the social and ecological impacts of eucalyptus monocultures in Brazil. Coverage by *The Guardian* has described the “green desert” resistance of farmers in Bahia,<ref>{{cite news |date=5 November 2025 |title='Green desert': the farmers winning a battle with Brazil’s wood‑pulp giant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2025/nov/05/brazil-green-desert-bahia-farmers-winning-battle-eucalyptus-wood-pulp-veracel-celulose |access-date=3 December 2025 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> while Yle’s investigative team, including reporter Jessica Stolzmann, has documented conflicts and detentions linked to Veracel Celulose.<ref>{{cite news |date=2011 |title=Red Forest Hotel: Documentary on Stora Enso in China and Brazil |url=https://yle.fi/a/3-12502080 |access-date=3 December 2025 |work=Yle}}</ref>
Protests have been organized by the **Landless Workers’ Movement (MST)**,<ref>{{cite web |date=18 March 2025 |title=Brazil rises against eucalyptus plantations: ‘These are not forests!’ |url=https://environmentalpaper.org/2025/03/brazil-rises-against-eucalyptus-plantations-these-are-not-forests/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |website=Environmental Paper Network}}</ref> which has mobilized against eucalyptus expansion and its impacts on rural communities.
During COP30 in November 2025, activists from **Extinction Rebellion Sweden**, **Skogsupproret**, and **Take Concrete Action** occupied Stora Enso’s headquarters in Stockholm to denounce the company’s role in land conflicts and environmental destruction in Brazil and Uruguay.<ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2025 |title=Aktivister ockuperar Stora Ensos kontor |url=https://www.arbetaren.se/2025/11/10/aktivister-ockuperar-stora-ensos-kontor/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |work=Arbetaren}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=10 November 2025 |title=Protesterade på Stora Ensos huvudkontor |url=https://tidningensyre.se/2025/10-november-2025/protesterar-pa-stora-ensos-huvudkontor/ |access-date=3 December 2025 |work=Syre}}</ref>
==== China ==== Stora Enso’s eucalyptus plantation projects in Guangxi, China have also been criticized, particularly in relation to land use and sustainability<ref>[http://www.finnwatch.org/images/storaensonet.pdf Stora Enso etelän eukalyptusmailla] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924013201/http://www.finnwatch.org/images/storaensonet.pdf|date=2015-09-24}} Finnwatch 2009</ref>. The 2011 documentary ''Red Forest Hotel'' <ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/project.aspx?id=2533FF77-8E91-476F-844A-2CA3554D638F |title=Red Forest Hotel |author=Mika Koskinen |year=2011 |location=Finland |minutes=87 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513180205/https://www.idfa.nl/industry/tags/project.aspx?id=2533FF77-8E91-476F-844A-2CA3554D638F |archive-date=2016-05-13 |url-status=dead}}</ref> examined the social and ecological impacts of these operations, raising concerns about restricted land access and long‑term environmental risks.
'''Canada'''
Nova Scotia Forest Industries, the Canadian corporate identity of Stora Forest Industries (as it was known in the day)<ref>Mark R. Leeming, [https://books.google.com/books?id=kvEmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66 ''In Defence of Home Places: Environmental Activism in Nova Scotia''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420073955/https://books.google.ca/books?id=kvEmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66 |date=2018-04-20 }} (UBC Press, 2017)</ref> in 1983 was pursued in the Nova Scotia Supreme Court in ''Palmer v Nova Scotia Forest Industries'' and did emerge victorious. The case went on to influence the practice of Canadian environmental law.<ref>[http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1882&context=ohlj ohlj: "Of Herbicides and Humankind: Palmer's Common Law Lessons"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420073951/http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1882&context=ohlj |date=2018-04-20 }}, by Bruce H. Wildsmith (Volume 24, Number 1 Spring 1986 Article 6)</ref> What neighbours objected to was the spraying of the herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid, a component of Agent Orange.<ref>[https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/05/An-herbicide-spraying-battle-opening-today-in-Nova-Scotia/6450420955200/?spt=su upi.com: "An herbicide spraying battle opening today in Nova Scotia..."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420073827/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/05/05/An-herbicide-spraying-battle-opening-today-in-Nova-Scotia/6450420955200/?spt=su |date=2018-04-20 }}, May 5, 1983</ref>
=== Human rights concerns === The Swedish program ''Kalla fakta'' reported in 2014 that Stora Enso used child labor in its activities in Pakistan, and that the company had been aware of it since 2012.<ref>[https://www.dn.se/ekonomi/stora-enso-kande-till-barnarbete/ Stora Enso kände till barnarbete] Dagens Nyheter 2014-03-09 {{in lang|sv}}</ref> In response, the company denied that child labor existed directly in the operations of its joint venture partner in Pakistan, but admitted that it was present in its supplier networks. It stated that its partner, Bulleh Shah Packaging, was taking short-term action to remedy the situation in areas where child labor was known to exist, and was also working to mitigate child labor in the long term by addressing its root causes. In 2017, Stora Enso divested its business interest in Pakistan.<ref name=pakistantodayprofit201707 /><ref name=packaginggateway201707 /><ref name=packnewspakistan201709/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://assets.storaenso.com/se/com/DownloadCenterDocuments/Pakistan_fact_sheet_final.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306011009/http://assets.storaenso.com/se/com/DownloadCenterDocuments/Pakistan_fact_sheet_final.pdf |archive-date=6 March 2016 |title=Mitigating Child Labour in Pakistan |publisher=Stora Enso |date=March 2014 |access-date=2014-04-10}}</ref>
=== Legionella infection === In 2019, at least 32 people got infected and two people died due to legionnaires' disease after being infected by steam coming from a Legionella pneumophila contaminated cooling tower of the Stora Enso factory located in Ghent, Belgium. The cooling tower had an aerobic count of over 1,000,000, about ten times the urgent action limit of 100,000 micro-organisms per mL at 30 °C<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso/stora-enso-locations/langerbrugge-mill/legionella-infection-in-the-canal-zone-of-ghent|title=Legionelle infection in the canal zone of Ghent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604145428/https://www.storaenso.com/en/about-stora-enso/stora-enso-locations/langerbrugge-mill/legionella-infection-in-the-canal-zone-of-ghent|archive-date=4 June 2019|url-status=live|access-date=4 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/04/papierfabrikant-stora-enso-uit-gent-is-verantwoordelijk-voor-leg/|title=Papierfabrikant Stora Enso uit Gent is mogelijke bron van legionella-uitbraak.|access-date=4 June 2019|archive-date=4 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604145426/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/04/papierfabrikant-stora-enso-uit-gent-is-verantwoordelijk-voor-leg/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Fresh water mussel catastrophe === In August 2024, logging machines belonging to Stora Enso drove over a critical habitat for freshwater pearl mussels, protected by Finnish environmental laws, at Hukkajoki River in Suomussalmi, Finland and Hukkajoki River. Thousands of these extremely endangered animals were wiped in the river crossing point and downstream.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-23 |title=Friday's papers: Mussel massacre, Tampere tram cuts and Turku's revamped waterpark|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20106812 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=en}}</ref> The Police are investigating the case as a severe aggravated environmental crime, and the Finnish Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen demanded Stora Enso to take full responsibility and to cover the caused damage and the whole Finnish forest industry to act more to protect the environment.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-24 |title=Ministeri Mykkänen vaatii Stora Ensoa maksamaan viulut|url=https://www.hs.fi/politiikka/art-2000010650425.html |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>
== Corporate responsibility ==
In July 2014, Stora Enso started to collaborate with Save the Children around children's rights. The collaboration concerned policies and processes with regard to supply chain issues in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-07-21 |title=Stora Enso kertoo havainneensa lapsityövoiman käyttöä |url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/stora_enso_kertoo_havainneensa_lapsityovoiman_kayttoa/7367830 |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Yle Uutiset |language=fi}}</ref>
In April 2015, Stora Enso entered into a partnership with ILO, with the aims of progressively eliminating child labor from the supply chain in Pakistan and promoting decent work conditions.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/latest/stora-enso-and-ilo-partner-combat-child-labor|date=27 April 2015|title=Stora Enso and ILO partner to combat child labor|newspaper=Labels and Labeling|access-date=8 December 2015|archive-date=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211105425/http://www.labelsandlabeling.com/news/latest/stora-enso-and-ilo-partner-combat-child-labor|url-status=live}}</ref> The experiences in Pakistan prompted Stora Enso to appoint an executive vice president for sustainability to its group leadership team, and to include sustainability managers in its division leadership teams.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://globalchildforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/GCF-Stora-Enso-Company-Case-Study.pdf |year = 2015 |first = Brian |last = Ganson |title = From promise to performance: Stora Enso's journey towards mitigating child labour |publisher = Global Child Forum |access-date = 8 December 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151211063456/http://globalchildforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/GCF-Stora-Enso-Company-Case-Study.pdf |archive-date = 11 December 2015 }}</ref>
In 2016, Stora Enso qualified for inclusion on the "Climate A list" of the CDP environmental organization, a status awarded to 193 of 1,839 companies sampled.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://paperprovince.com/en/news_type/billerudkorsnas-and-stora-enso-awarded-top-placement-for-their-climate-work-2/|title=BillerudKorsnäs and Stora Enso awarded top placement for their climate work|date=23 December 2016|newspaper=Paper Province|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810012132/http://paperprovince.com/en/news_type/billerudkorsnas-and-stora-enso-awarded-top-placement-for-their-climate-work-2/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/10/cdp-climate-a-list-revealed-which-firms-lead-in-reducing-ghg-emissions/|title=CDP Climate A List Revealed: Which Firms Lead in Reducing GHG Emissions?|date=26 October 2016|first=Jessica|last=Lyons Hardcastle|publisher=Business Sector Media LLC|newspaper=Environmental Leader|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810011951/https://www.environmentalleader.com/2016/10/cdp-climate-a-list-revealed-which-firms-lead-in-reducing-ghg-emissions/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=cdp2016report>{{cite web|url=https://b8f65cb373b1b7b15feb-c70d8ead6ced550b4d987d7c03fcdd1d.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/cms/reports/documents/000/001/228/original/CDP_Climate_Change_Report_2016.pdf|title=Out of the starting blocks: Tracking progress on corporate climate action|year=2016|publisher=CDP|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=25 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425121808/https://b8f65cb373b1b7b15feb-c70d8ead6ced550b4d987d7c03fcdd1d.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/cms/reports/documents/000/001/228/original/CDP_Climate_Change_Report_2016.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
Stora Enso was the main sponsor of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2017 in Lahti. The company provided the games with items made of renewable materials, including two spectator shelters built from cross laminated timber elements, which were subsequently donated to the host city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fis-ski.com/news-multimedia/news/article=stora-enso-presenting-sponsor-lahti-2017.html|title=Stora Enso presenting sponsor of Lahti 2017|date=30 September 2015|publisher=International Ski Federation|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=19 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919003917/http://www.fis-ski.com/news-multimedia/news/article=stora-enso-presenting-sponsor-lahti-2017.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Global/Issues/2016/09/21/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Liqui-Moly.aspx|title=Liqui Moly Signs Sponsorship Deal With 2017 Lahti Nordic World Ski Championships|date=21 September 2016|publisher=American City Business Journals|newspaper=Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Global|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810041033/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Global/Issues/2016/09/21/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Liqui-Moly.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thebiojournal.com/the-bioeconomy-protagonist-at-the-fis-nordic-world-ski-championship-2017/|title=The Bioeconomy protagonist at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship 2017|date=17 March 2017|first=Michael|last=Burgundy|newspaper=The BioJournal|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=10 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810014309/http://www.thebiojournal.com/the-bioeconomy-protagonist-at-the-fis-nordic-world-ski-championship-2017/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Companies|Finland}} *William Lehtinen, Enso-Gutzeit's post-war rebuilder and CEO *Great Copper Mountain *Ahlstrom *Enso (town) *List of Finnish companies *List of oldest companies *Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget *UPM-Kymmene
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} *{{official website|https://www.storaenso.com}} *[https://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=SEOAY Yahoo! - Stora Enso Oyj Company Profile]
{{OMX Helsinki 25 companies}} {{Nasdaq Helsinki}} {{Authority control}}
Category:1288 establishments in Europe Category:Manufacturing companies based in Helsinki Category:Finnish brands Category:Companies established in the 13th century Category:Companies listed on Nasdaq Helsinki Category:Companies listed on Nasdaq Stockholm Category:Companies in the OMX Helsinki 25 Category:Pulp and paper companies of Finland Category:Companies related to the Wallenberg family Category:Multinational companies headquartered in Finland Category:1998 establishments in Finland Category:Packaging companies of Finland