Stora Enso uses sustainability as the umbrella term to describe responsible business operations that include economic, environmental and social responsibility. The challenge in sustainability management is to effectively balance the different aspects of sustainability in long-term and short-term decision-making processes at all levels within the Group.

Corporate sustainability policies and strategies are guided by Stora Enso’s Environmental and Social Responsibility Policy, and executed through systematic environmental and social management practices.

A set of policies and principles related to sustainability have been established to support the Group’s Environmental and Social Policy. The most relevant policies and principles are:

• Principles of Environmental and Social Responsibility for Wood Procurement and Sustainable Forest Management
• Forest Certification Principles
• Principles for Implementing Environmental Management Systems
• Transport Environmental Principles
• Principles for Corporate Social Responsibility
• Corporate Occupational Health and Safety Policy
• Principle on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).

Code of Ethics established

In addition to the above policies and principles, Stora Enso established a Code of Ethics in spring 2004 to fulfil the requirements of the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

This regulation requires all companies listed in the USA to provide a specific set of statements on environmental, social and economic issues. Stora Enso’s Code of Ethics formulates and summarises the Group’s current sustainability management approaches and practices. Operational management is responsible for compliance with the Code, which applies to all Stora Enso employees.