Image source: Stora Enso image bank

Contributing to renewable packaging in Finland

AFRY supports Stora Enso in converting decommissioned paper machine into a consumer board production line.

Stora Enso is investing in a high-volume consumer board production line to meet the market demand, growing the production capacity at the company’s mill in Oulu, Finland.

The rapid growth of the renewable packaging sector continues due to demographic changes and overall long-term economic growth. The increasing focus on sustainability, particularly in the consumer goods industry, is contributing to the wider adoption of fibre-based packaging solutions.

Stora Enso is a global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden construction, and paper, and the company has decided to invest approximately EUR 1 billion to meet the growing market demand by converting the remaining idle paper machine at its Oulu site in Finland into a high-volume consumer board production line. The total annual capacity will be 750,000 tonnes of folding box board (FBB) and coated unbleached kraft (CUK). The converted machine is estimated to start production in early 2025.

AFRY’s assignment includes detail engineering services for Balance of Plant (BoP), a new wood handling line, a new thermomechanical pulp line (BCTMP) and evaporation plants, modifications to the existing recovery boiler and causticizing, a new biofuel boiler and fuel handling, a new Non-Condensable Gas (NCG) boiler, and the rebuild of an on-site storage and conversion. The value of the order for AFRY has not been disclosed.

We are honoured to partner with Stora Enso in this significant conversion project for renewable consumer packaging materials. AFRY has extensive experience in engineering and implementing large-scale conversion projects, which will support Stora Enso in demanding time scheduling and project management. Stora Enso and AFRY have co-operated for more than 60 years and AFRY has been supporting Stora Enso in many of their major investments as well as during the daily operations locally

  Kalle Rasinmäki, AFRY's Head of Process Industries in Finland

Project facts

Project: Renewable packaging project

Client name: Stora Enso Oyj

Project location: Oulu, Finland

Project duration: 2022-2024

AFRY Scope of Services delivered: detailed engineering services, new wood handling line, new thermomechanical pulp line, modifications to the recovery boiler, rebuild of on-site storage and conversion

Image source: Stora Enso image bank

Did you know?

Global demand growth for fiber-based packaging is accelerating as it becomes one of the key enablers of the transition towards circular economy. Consumer boards are simultaneously renewable and recyclable and are therefore increasingly used as sustainable packaging materials for a multitude of uses including, foods, confectionary, beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Read more: Pulp & Paper | AFRY