Stora Enso and FSC have announced a new partnership agreement which aims to increase FSC certification, particularly amongst small and medium-sized private forest owners in the Nordic and Baltic countries and throughout Europe. The objective is to increase the supply of FSC certified wood. The work undertaken by the partnership will make FSC certification more accessible, simpler to implement and easier to encourage in the value chains in which Stora Enso operates. The agreement was signed last 17 December and covers a period of three years, starting from January 2019. The first year of operation will concentrate on the Nordic countries. «We are actively working with our stakeholders to promote sustainable management of the forests», states Noel Morrin, EVP Sustainability of Stora Enso. «As a renewable materials company focused on its clients, Stora Enso also wants to meet the requirements of its clients for FSC certified products».
Stora Enso has been a member of FSC since 1999 and, through this experience of collaborating with the FSC, promotes the principles of responsible management of forests. This new strategic partnership focuses on the key working aspects of FSC in the countries in which both organisations have an active presence. It will try to develop and promote forestry certification as an essential tool to improve the well-being of forests, at the same time providing greater supply sources for the companies which want to procure FSC certified material. «Improving solutions for small and medium-sized forest owners to access responsible markets through FSC certification is essential for the success of our mission. The collaboration with Stora Enso will allow us to increase our commitment and offer better support to a greater number and more diverse group of private forest owners, enabling them to correctly implement FSC certification in their forests», declares Kim Carstensen, general manager of FSC.