Stora Enso

Helsinki, Finland, 14 March 2007 -- Stora Enso has published its fourth independently verified sustainability report today for the year 2006. The report continues to describe the Group's environmental and social opportunities and challenges, and addresses the main concerns raised by stakeholders. Stora Enso continued to make good progress towards all of its sustainability targets in 2006.

Highlights from the report

Actions to help mitigate climate change

Stora Enso is taking actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by improving energy efficiency, increasing the use of biofuels and combined heat and power, and using nuclear power and energy from renewable sources in its manufacturing processes. During the past five years, Stora Enso's pulp, paper, board, and converted products facilities have reduced their direct fossil CO2 emissions by 10% when normalized for production. In addition, already 64% of the Group's energy needs are met with carbon-neutral biofuels. During 2007, Stora Enso will study its carbon footprint and evaluate the feasibility of a greenhouse gas emission target.

Veracel generating welfare in Brazil

During 2006, Stora Enso's joint venture Veracel contracted Fundação Getulio Vargas, a well-known independent Brazilian institute of economic studies, to conduct a study of the socio-economic impacts of Veracel in Brazil. The preliminary results show for example that in 2006 Veracel was responsible for the creation of 30,400 direct and indirect jobs throughout the Brazilian economy and paid an average remuneration double the average Brazilian industrial remuneration.

Pioneering sustainable forestry in Russia

In December 2006, Stora Enso, two Russian logging companies, and four customers--the world's largest users of paper products--released a project report documenting the key success factors in enhancing business practices, labor safety, and sustainable forestry in the Russian forest sector. The report is the outcome of a three-year Tikhvin-Chalna joint project to improve environmental and social performance in the Russian wood supply chain.

The sustainability report is part of Stora Enso's Annual Report 2006 package, which can be downloaded at www.storaenso.com/annualreports.