Stora Enso has inaugurated what it claims is “the largest and most modern consumer packaging board production line in Europe”.
The new line was inaugurated in Oulu, Finland on Monday (18 August) by prime minister of Finland Petteri Orpo; chair of Stora Enso’s board of directors Kari Jordan; president and CEO of Stora Enso Hans Sohlström; and Oulu mill’s chief shop steward Olli-Pekka Kaikkonen.
Stora Enso’s Oulu unit serves the growing demand for renewable packaging globally and contributes to the transition to a circular bioeconomy. The production site also supports Finland’s competitiveness and increases exports with products of higher added value.
Stora Enso has invested €1.1bn (£950m) in the now inaugurated production line together with other developments on the site area, amounting to a total of approximately €1.7bn investment in the entire Oulu mill in 2019–2025.
The investments have 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.
“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,” said Sohlström.
“Consumer packaging made from wood fibres has great potential to replace plastic packaging and our materials are designed for existing recycling streams.
“The nearly carbon-neutral production site in Oulu is a prime example of an investment in bioeconomy, and it concretely contributes to the transition from fossil materials to renewable and recyclable packaging.”
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.
“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,” said Matti Lielahti, head of Stora Enso Oulu Business Unit.
“This means also that they 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.”
He added: “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.”
The Oulu site has a long tradition in the region, with the mill dating back to the 1930s. Today, it employs more than 900 people directly and indirectly many times more in the entire supply chain, wood transport, logistics, maintenance, and service providers in the area.
Ari Alatossava, mayor of Oulu, also commented: “Stora Enso’s billion-euro investment in Oulu will improve export operations, the vitality and competitiveness of the region and also of Northern Finland and bring more permanent jobs.
“We are pleased to actively contribute to the implementation of significant green transition industrial policy investments in accordance with our growth strategy.”
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.
