Stora Enso receives FSC certifications

The Wood Supply U.S. unit of Stora Enso has announced that it has been third-party-certified for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody for all its purchases of raw wood fiber. In addition, Stora Enso has received FSC Forest Management third-party certification for the more than 5,400 acres (2,214 ha) of forestland that are owned and managed by Store Enso in Wisconsin.

The FSC COC audit report praised Stora Enso’s environmental management system policies and actions for providing a firm foundation for FSC controlled wood certification.  The report states: ‘The core elements of the Stora Enso traceability system are very comprehensive and reliable. Both design and implementation of the traceability system are outstanding.’

‘Achieving these FSC forest management and chain of custody certifications is consistent with Stora Enso’s longstanding wood procurement and forest management policies and guidelines,’ said Fred Souba, vice president, Wood Supply U.S. & Fiber. He added: ‘Attaining this accomplishment is an additional assurance to our customers that we conduct forest management and fiber sourcing in a sustainable way.’ 

‘Chain of custody’ is the path taken by wood from the forest to the mill. Compliance with this standard means that Stora Enso wood supply employees have established and engage in best practices to avoid purchasing timber that has been: illegally harvested; harvested from areas where human rights are violated; harvested from forests where high conservation values are threatened; harvested from areas which have been converted from natural forest to plantations or non-forest uses; or harvested from genetically modified trees. 

The FSC Forest Management certification verifies that Stora Enso’s practices comply with the principles of responsible forest management and validate that the forest products produced come from a responsibly managed forest.

Gordy Mouw, environmental manager of Wood Supply U.S., commented: ‘The FSC COC certification affirms that Stora Enso’s purchased wood fiber is coming from well-managed forests that adhere to the strict environmental and socioeconomic standards of the FSC. The FSC FM certification of our forestlands demonstrates our long-time commitment to sustainable forest management.’ 

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international organization that promotes sustainable management of the world’s forests. The organization accredits third-party certifiers to ensure that forest and forest products companies meet FSC principles and criteria for environmental, economic, and social standards.

Stora Enso’s chain of the Forest Stewardship Council indicates that the wood used to make the product comes from a forest which is well managed according to these standards. Custody was certified by SmartWood, the world's first independent forestry certifier and one of the world’s leading nonprofit forestry certifiers. SmartWood helped establish the FSC in 1993.

Stora Enso’s forest management was certified by BVQI, an independent certification body.