Stora Enso’s Oulu mill becomes Finland’s first pulp mill certified to FSSC 22000 food safety standard
Stora Enso has announced that its Oulu production site has become the first pulp mill in Finland to achieve FSSC 22000 (Food Safety System Certification), an internationally recognised standard for food safety management systems. The certification strengthens food safety assurance throughout the value chain and provides packaging customers with additional confidence in the quality, safety and traceability of materials used in food-contact applications.
The certification confirms that the food safety management system at the Oulu pulp mill complies with the stringent requirements of the FSSC 22000 standard. The site had previously obtained the certification for kraftliner production in 2021 and for folding boxboard production in 2025 following the start-up of its new consumer board line. The latest achievement represents another milestone in the transformation of the Oulu site into one of Europe’s most advanced integrated packaging materials facilities.
“This certification demonstrates the high standards we apply throughout our production process and provides customers with additional confidence in the quality, safety and reliability of the materials they use. Achieving certification for pulp production is a unique milestone in Finland,” said Matti Lielahti, Head of Stora Enso’s Oulu business unit. Lielahti also noted that all pulp products manufactured at the site are suitable for direct food contact and meet compostability requirements.
The Oulu mill uses most of its own pulp production internally for board manufacturing. The packaging boards produced at the site are made from virgin fibre, supporting the high purity and quality requirements demanded by food packaging applications.
Stora Enso stated that the certification is reflected throughout daily operations via strict hygiene standards, systematic risk management, standardised procedures and specialised expertise across all production stages.
“Achieving these milestones reflects the commitment and strong expertise of our team as well as our desire to continuously develop and improve our operations,” Lielahti added. Since May 2026, the entire production chain at the Oulu site — including the pulp mill, board machines, sheeting plant and port terminal — has been covered by the certification.
The Oulu mill produces folding boxboard, kraftliner, paper sack materials and unbleached softwood pulp. Nearly all production is exported to international markets, with a strong focus on renewable packaging applications.
