Wood Products from Sustainable Managed Forests Pave the Way for Future Generations

This piece was written and provided by FTMA Supporting Partner, Stora Enso.

It’s no news that in December 2023 at COP28, Australian Government and 16 other countries signed a pledge to increase the use of timber in construction sector by 2030. Those countries committed to advancing policies and approaches to support low carbon construction and increase the use of wood from sustainably managed forests.

Of course, Stora Enso, one of the largest private forest owners in the world, and Europe’s largest supplier of wood products – having supplied over 20,000 construction projects globally – welcomes this statement with a loud applause. All shifts in construction sector that prioritize renewable and sustainable materials, such as wood, can have a lasting and positive impact for the future generations.

How does Stora Enso contribute to sustainable forest management?

With more than 5.4 million m³ sawn wood, 2.2 million m³ of further processed wood, 0.3 million m³ of cross-laminated timber (CLT) and almost 0.1 million m³ of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) products, and 460 000 tons of pellets annually exiting the 14 mills of Stora Enso Wood Products division across Europe, the company is sure to know the origin of all the wood they use and can guarantee it comes from sustainably managed forests.

“Stora Enso has ensured that the wood used in our sawmills are legally and sustainably sourced by implementing third-party certified chain of custody and due diligence systems, such as PEFC, for example. Additionally, we have established our own sustainable forest management system to responsibly care for and use forests and forest lands. This approach enhances the preservation of biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, and vitality for the long term,” explains Darrin Wheeler, Head of Unit – Australia at Stora Enso.

As one of the world’s largest private forest owners, Stora Enso plays an active role in the continuous development of sustainable forestry practices.

The company manages its own and leased forest land covering a total area of two million hectares worldwide. The majority, about 1.139 million hectares, is in Sweden. Stora Enso also has a share of 285,000 hectares in a joint venture in Finland, Estonia, and Romania. Additionally, the company operates a 61,000-hectare eucalyptus forest in southern China, manages 49,000 hectares of forest in Brazil, and holds shares in a joint venture in Uruguay, covering 92,000 hectares.

“99% of forests owned or managed by us are certified today. Our approach to forest management is based on the economic, social, and environmental aspects of sustainability. The implementation of sustainable forestry practices plays a crucial role in preserving the vitality of forests for the well-being of generations to come,” says Darrin.

With roots dating back to the 13th century, Stora Enso has been supplying structurally graded timber products for the construction industry in Australia for the past 24 years, becoming the largest importer of construction softwood in Australia. “All our products for the Australian market are graded to Australian Standards with third-party certification, and we can ensure all timber is sourced from European sustainably managed forests,” confirms Darrin.

Stora Enso offers top-quality timber products, including rough sawn, structural, and planed options, customisable to exact specifications.

He adds that the customers value Stora Enso’s “just-in-time” deliveries from the four warehouses across the country. “We are maintaining inventory at our warehouses to service customers’ requirements and deliver all the products on-demand to their premises. This is all very well perceived by our customers.”

Stora Enso’s automated coating line at Ybbs Sawmill, Austria, applies high-quality water based coating to approximately 500,000 m² of Sylva™ CLT Walls and Floors annually.