Stora Enso has inaugurated Europe’s largest and most modern consumer packaging board production line at its Oulu mill in Finland, marking a €1.1 billion investment in renewable packaging.
The event, held on 18 August, was attended by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Stora Enso leadership, and local representatives.
The new line is designed to meet growing global demand for renewable packaging and to advance the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Stora Enso’s investment, part of a €1.7 billion modernization program at Oulu since 2019, has transformed former paper machines into state-of-the-art board lines. The site now produces folding boxboard, kraftliners, paper bag material, and unbleached softwood pulp—much of it destined for export.
According to Stora Enso, the Oulu operations have reduced fossil CO₂ emissions by 90%, making the facility nearly carbon neutral. The mill also employs FiberLight Tec™, the company’s patented fiber technology, which enables lighter yet durable boards. These materials are designed to replace plastic in food packaging, medicines, and beverage multipacks, while remaining compatible with existing recycling systems.
The Oulu mill employs more than 900 people directly, with wider impacts across the local supply chain, including forestry, logistics, and energy. By 2027, the facility is expected to reach full capacity of 750,000 tonnes annually, generating an estimated €800 million in sales.
Company leaders emphasized the site’s importance to Finland’s competitiveness and exports, while city officials underlined its role in supporting regional vitality and the green transition.
Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction, and one of the largest private forest owners in the world. With approximately 19,000 employees, the company reported €9 billion in sales in 2024. Stora Enso shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki and Nasdaq Stockholm, with additional trading on U.S. OTC markets.
