Stora Enso inaugurates Europe’s largest consumer packaging board line in Finland
Stora Enso, a Finnish and Swedish renewable materials company has officially launched Europe’s largest and most advanced consumer packaging board production line at its Oulu mill, marking a major step in Finland’s green industrial transition.
The EUR1.1 billion project, part of a broader EUR1.7 billion investment in the Oulu site between 2019 and 2025, converts former paper machines into state-of-the-art board production lines. According to the company, the shift cuts fossil carbon dioxide emissions by 90% while boosting Finland’s export capacity with high-value packaging products designed for global markets.
The Oulu mill produces folding boxboard, kraftliners, paper bag materials, and unbleached softwood pulp. These materials, suitable for direct food contact, are almost entirely exported and positioned as sustainable alternatives to plastic.
“Consumer packaging made from wood fibers has strong potential to replace plastic packaging,” said Stora Enso President and CEO Hans Sohlström. “Our nearly carbon-neutral production site in Oulu demonstrates how renewable and recyclable solutions can drive both sustainability and economic growth.”
The new line incorporates Stora Enso’s patented FiberLight Tec technology, which allows production of lighter but durable boards. These are intended for food packaging, medicines, and beverage multipacks, helping manufacturers cut transport emissions and material use. The mill directly employs more than 900 people, with several thousand additional jobs supported in forestry, logistics, and maintenance.
“Our folding boxboard can be up to a third lighter than conventional options,” noted Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso’s Oulu Business Unit. “Combined with our mill’s location next to a deep-water port, we can ensure efficient global logistics while contributing to climate goals.”
The Oulu site sources pulpwood from private Finnish forest owners, as well as byproducts such as sawmill chips, bark, and sawdust. Much of this biomass is used for on-site energy production, which also supplies district heating to the city of Oulu.
“Oulu’s billion-euro investment strengthens Northern Finland’s competitiveness and vitality,” said Oulu Mayor Ari Alatossava. “It also represents one of the most significant green transition industrial projects in the country.”
Stora Enso expects the new production line to reach full capacity of 750,000 tonnes per year by 2027, generating annual sales of around EUR800 million.
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