Stora Enso performs internal studies and works together with suppliers to develop mutually beneficial partnerships and opportunities to improve the efficiency of the use of materials.

A new Internet-based tool for the Chemsoft system was launched in October 2004 to speed up the procedures through which suppliers provide updated information to all the units concerned.

Suppliers are now able to provide important information about health and environmental safety through chemical and material safety data sheets. Stora Enso uses various data systems such as Chemsoft and Dolphin to make safety information easily available for employees handling chemicals and other raw materials.

Chemsoft’s unique feature is its connections to a common pulp and paper database known as ChemSource^®, which contains details of some 14 000 chemical products used by the European pulp and paper industry, as well as health, safety and environmental information on some 6 800 chemical substances present in the products.

Strict criteria for chemicals

Stora Enso North America requires additional chemical information from suppliers. In the United States, all raw material and chemical purchases must be approved using procedures established through a rigorous procurement policy. Suppliers are required to complete special procurement forms that provide additional information not typically found on material safety data sheets.