Seal of approval for Stora Enso report
Published on: Mar 10, 2010
The latest sustainability performance report from Stora Enso has been independently assured by Two Tomorrows for the seventh year in succession.
Our assurance work for the Finnish/Swedish paper, packaging and forest-products company was conducted with reference to the latest edition of the AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS 2008).
Our work involved:
- in-depth interviews with senior managers to assess governance arrangements and the link between business strategy and sustainability
- a detailed review of data-collection systems
- research into sector issues and best practice
- visits to Stora Enso sites to test data systems, stakeholder engagement mechanisms and materiality processes.
Stora Enso’s Sustainability Performance 2009 report follows the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 guidelines and meets the GRI B+ standard.
We found that Stora Enso had made significant progress in identifying and responding to stakeholder concerns. In particular, the company had made genuine and effective efforts to understand and act on emerging social issues in developing economies such as China, where it has operated plantations since 2002.
As part of our assurance work, executive chairman Mark Line and associate consultant Anne Copeland visited Stora Enso's new plantations in the Guangxi region of China. Stora Enso has developed a Sustainability Action Plan for its China operations covering management of key operational, environment, health and safety and social issues. The aim of the visit was to review progress made to date and the challenges faced in delivering the plan.
Photo shows Two Tomorrows executive chairman Mark Line, second from left, during an assurance visit by Two Tomorrows to Stora Enso plantations in Guangxi in China. Stora Enso's plantations there could serve as a foundation for integrated pulp, paper and board production in the province.
