Stora Enso Advances Oulu Packaging Materials Transformation With Food Safety Certification for Pulp Production

Matti Lielahti – Head of BU Oulu Stora Enso
Stora Enso: The renewable materi

(IN BRIEF) Stora Enso’s Oulu business unit has become the first pulp mill operation in Finland to receive FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification, extending internationally recognised food safety assurance across the mill’s pulp production and wider packaging materials value chain. The certification confirms that the Oulu mill’s food safety management system meets strict requirements, with audited processes, systematic risk management and food safety practices integrated into daily operations. The achievement follows earlier FSSC 22000 certifications for kraftliner production in 2021 and folding boxboard production in 2025, marking another step in the transformation of Oulu into one of Europe’s most advanced integrated packaging materials sites. The mill uses most of its pulp internally for board production based on virgin fibre, supporting purity and quality requirements for food packaging. Since May 2026, the entire Oulu production chain, including the pulp mill, board machines, sheeting plant and port terminal, has been covered by the certification. The site produces folding boxboard, kraftliners, paper bag material and unbleached softwood pulp, with boards suitable for direct food contact and nearly all production exported.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 10-Jun-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Stora Enso’s Oulu business unit has become the first pulp mill operation in Finland to receive FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification, strengthening food safety assurance for packaging customers across the full value chain.

The internationally recognised certification confirms that the food safety management system at Stora Enso’s Oulu mill meets the strict requirements of the FSSC 22000 standard, extending food safety certification to pulp production at the site. The achievement adds to earlier certifications at the mill, where kraftliner production received FSSC 22000 certification in 2021 and folding boxboard production followed in 2025 with the start-up of the new consumer board line.

The certification represents another milestone in the Oulu mill’s development into one of Europe’s most advanced integrated packaging materials sites. As demand for renewable packaging continues to increase, customers are placing greater emphasis on materials that combine product performance, safety and sustainability, particularly in applications involving direct food contact.

For packaging customers, the certification provides added assurance that production processes are audited, risk management is systematic and food safety is embedded into daily operations. It also supports transparency and reliability across the value chain, from pulp production through to board manufacturing and delivery.

Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso’s Oulu business unit, said the certification reflects the high standards applied throughout the production process and gives customers further confidence in the quality, safety and reliability of the materials they use. He noted that achieving food safety certification for pulp production is a unique milestone in Finland, adding that all products from the Oulu mill are suitable for direct food contact and that the mill’s pulp also meets the requirements of the composting standard.

The Oulu mill uses most of its pulp in its own board machines. Its board production is based on virgin fibre, supporting high quality and purity requirements for food packaging applications. The FSSC 22000 certification is reflected in day-to-day operations through strict hygiene practices, systematic risk management, consistent procedures and strong production expertise across all stages of the process.

Lielahti said the achievement reflects the commitment and expertise of the Oulu team, as well as the business unit’s focus on continuous development and operational improvement.

Since May 2026, the entire production chain at Oulu has been covered by the certification, from the pulp mill to the board machines, sheeting plant and port terminal. The Oulu mill produces folding boxboard, kraftliners, paper bag material and unbleached softwood pulp. Its boards are suitable for direct contact with food, and nearly all of the mill’s production is exported.

Stora Enso is a global leader in renewable materials with a strong focus on packaging. Our purpose is to replace non-renewable materials with renewable solutions. Together with our customers, we design and deliver competitive, high-quality packaging materials and solutions, made from fresh and recycled fibers, accelerating the transition to a circular bioeconomy. Stora Enso has approximately 19,000 employees and our sales in 2025 were EUR 9.3 billion. www.storaenso.com.

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SOURCE: Stora Enso