Stora Enso invests to strengthen pulp production sites in Europe

Stora Enso site in Skutskar Sweden
Business

Investments to address growing demand for renewable packaging materials and hygiene products

Stora Enso strengthens its focus on specialised pulp grades by investing EUR 38 million in unbleached kraft pulp (UKP) production at its Enocell site in Finland and EUR 42 million in fluff pulp production improvement at its Skutskär site in Sweden. These investments will support the growing consumer demand for non-bleached renewable packaging materials and hygiene products respectively.

Stora Enso site in Skutskär, Sweden
Stora Enso site in Skutskär, Sweden © Stora Enso

By increasing the share of UKP in the pulp portfolio, Stora Enso continues on its strategic path to develop more specialised Nordic pulp grades while optimising its share in standard market pulp. The long-term trends point towards consumer preference for less bleached or brown fibre-based renewable packaging products. Following the investment, the Enocell site will be able to flexibly produce UKP and Nordic Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp. Due to the reduced use of bleaching chemicals, the carbon footprint per tonne of produced UKP will be more than 20% lower than the equivalent amount of bleached pulp produced at the Enocell site. The investment is expected to be completed during the last quarter of 2024.

The investment in fluff pulp production improvement at the Skutskär site strengthens Stora Enso's position as the leading fluff pulp producer in Europe. Due to the upgrades made with the investment, the Group can meet customer demand for specific roll sizes, improve work safety, and grow fluff pulp production at the Skutskär site. The investment is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2024.

"Through optimising our pulp portfolio, we advance the more specialised pulp offering, while also improving production and sustainability performance. This will allow us to meet the rapidly growing demand for using unbleached and less bleached pulp in packaging and hygiene applications," says Johanna Hagelberg, Executive Vice President, Biomaterials division at Stora Enso.

Both investments fall within the Group's capital expenditure guidance.

Stora Enso's Enocell site's annual capacity is 630,000 tonnes of softwood and hardwood pulp. The site employs approximately 280 people. Stora Enso's Skutskär site's annual capacity is 545,000 tonnes of fluff, softwood and hardwood pulps. The site employs approximately 420 people.

This article was originally published by Stora Enso.

Latest Packaging News

Absolut trials 'industry-first' paper cap and bottle combo
Sustainability

Absolut trials 'industry-first' paper cap and bottle combo

Absolut has taken another step in its sustainable packaging journey by trialling an industry-first...
Paramount Packaging Systems: Fast-track flow wrapping solution for leading food producer
Supplier News

Paramount Packaging Systems: Fast-track flow wrapping solution for leading food producer

The challenge When a long-standing food manufacturer experienced the sudden failure of two vital...
Spectra helps Bumboo clean up sustainably with 100% POP PCR bottles
Supplier News

Spectra helps Bumboo clean up sustainably with 100% POP PCR bottles

Spectra proudly partnered with Bumboo on their latest innovation, a reusable household cleaning...
King's Hawaiian unveils fresh packaging design for 75th anniversary
Business

King's Hawaiian unveils fresh packaging design for 75th anniversary

King's Hawaiian, known for its popular sweet rolls and other baked goods in America, has introduced...
Fiat unveils car featuring parts made from recycled beverage cartons
Sustainability

Fiat unveils car featuring parts made from recycled beverage cartons

Beverage cartons have found a new life as part of a groundbreaking development for the automotive...