Regulations and certifications

At Stora Enso, we support our customers and partners to be ready for EU regulation that impacts them, by providing:

• Regulatory guidance and advisory services
• Product stewardship aligned with EU legislation
• Support for circularity and recyclability requirements

Services such as regulatory and LCA support help customers navigate complex and evolving EU packaging rules. 

As packaging regulations evolve, companies increasingly need credible environmental data to compare materials, support sustainability reporting and prepare for requirements such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and product declarations. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) provides the data needed to understand environmental impacts across a product's lifecycle.

At Stora Enso, we use LCA to:

• Compare different packaging materials and formats
• Identify environmental impact hotspots
• Support decision-making for design and sourcing
• Provide carbon footprint and lifecycle data

LCA services can range from early screening to full ISO-compliant studies.

Packaging and sustainable material choices

We support material decisions by combining:

• Certified sourcing (FSC®, PEFC™)
• Lifecycle data (LCA, EPD)
• Regulatory guidance
• Circularity and recyclability expertise

At Stora Enso we help our customers transition towards material alternatives based on renewable raw materials. Where product-specific LCA data is available, we can support carbon footprint comparisons for defined packaging concepts and agreed system boundaries by providing: 

• Products that are based on renewable materials
• Sustainability services and training
• Data-driven tools to compare packaging options

Navigating changing EU regulations

Packaging legislation continues to evolve, making it increasingly important for companies to understand how regulations may affect packaging design, reporting and material choices.

Packaging decisions increasingly require companies to balance regulatory compliance and circularity goals with cost, security of supply, and customer expectations. Key drivers include:

• New and evolving EU regulatory requirements
• Stronger sustainability and circularity requirements
• Growing customer and market demand for circular packaging solutions

Stora Enso addresses this by:

• Monitoring regulatory developments and engaging with policymakers and industry associations
• Providing advisory and sustainability services
• Integrating lifecycle thinking into product design
• Supporting customers with data and decision tools

This helps ensure packaging solutions remain compliant, reliable, and relevant over time. 

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)

The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new compliance requirements for packaging placed on the EU market. While many obligations will apply later, the first requirements entered into application on 12 August 2026.

Since August 2026, packaging placed on the EU market must undergo a conformity assessment, be supported by technical documentation, and be accompanied by an EU PPWR Declaration of Conformity (PPWR DoC) confirming compliance with the applicable PPWR requirements.

For now, the main compliance focus is on:

• Substances of concern – heavy metals and PFAS in food contact packaging
• Recyclability, in accordance with EN 13430:2004

Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are used to provide verified, standardised environmental data about our wood products. 

EPDs:

• Are based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Follow established standards (e.g. EN 15804)
• Include data on emissions, resource use, and lifecycle impacts
• Are verified by independent third parties

This makes EPDs useful for:

• Regulatory reporting
• Procurement decisions
• Transparent comparison between products

Food packaging must comply with strict food-contact and safety requirements. To demonstrate compliance, packaging suppliers need robust controls, documented evidence, and full traceability.

As a supplier of these products, we support food-safety compliance by:

• Complying with applicable EU food-contact and chemical-safety legislation
• Applying Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Using approved raw materials under controlled conditions
• Maintaining documentation and traceability throughout production

At Stora Enso, these controls are supported by:

• Product-specific food-contact material Declarations of Compliance (FCM DoCs)
• Certified food-safety management systems, including ISO 22000, FSSC 22000 and BRCGS
• Safety assessments covering the full product lifecycle—from raw material sourcing to end of use

Certifications for food-contact applications

Common certifications are based on:

• FSSC 22000 (Food safety management scheme)
• BRCGS (Global standard packaging materials)
• ISO 22000 (Food safety management system standard)

These certifications provide assurance that packaging materials and packaging are produced to be safe for the intended food contact. 

Reliable supply chains depend on more than production capacity. Regulations, certifications, and customer expectations increasingly require suppliers to demonstrate responsible sourcing, traceability, supplier governance, and robust sustainability data.

We regularly conduct sustainability due diligence to identify, assess, and address potential human rights and environmental impacts. This also supports many of the information and data collection requirements arising from regulations and certifications.

At Stora Enso:

• Suppliers must commit to our Supplier Code of Conduct, covering human and labour rights, health and safety, environmental commitments, and responsible business practices.
• Risk assessments, audits, and traceability processes help verify compliance and support supply assurance.
• Sustainability data supports regulatory reporting, certification requirements, and informed sourcing decisions.