Stora Enso promotes forest certification wherever the Group operates, and is active in various forest certification schemes in different parts of the world. Due to differing conditions, there is often a need for more than one system within certain regions. In Europe, for instance, Stora Enso equally supports the schemes of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC).

Mutual recognition of forest certification systems would allow larger volumes of wood to be fully certified, and facilitate communications about the sustainability of raw materials. Full reciprocal acceptance by the different systems would allow wood flows to be combined and regarded as certified under either system.

Mutual recognition in Sweden and Finland

Swedish forests owned by Stora Enso, whose ownership is currently being restructured, have been FSC-certified. In order to support mutual recognition, Stora Enso Wood Supply Sweden decided prior to the divestment decision to start up a certification process leading to PEFC certification. The new owner, Bergvik Skog, will maintain the former owner’s approach to forest certification and sustainable forestry policies. Stora Enso Wood Supply Finland has also initiated discussions between the main national advocates of FSC and the Finnish Forest Certification System (FFCS) to promote mutual recognition.

Forest certification in Russia

In Russia, forest certification is only just getting started, with just about 1.5 million hectares of forests already FSC-certified and 3 million hectares currently being assessed for similar certification. A separate national voluntary forest certification system is also being prepared, with the intention to bring it under PEFC. The Pskov Model Forest, where Nordic forestry practices are being tested, was certified to FSC in September 2003. This project involves many organisations including Stora Enso and WWF.