FINLAND (News release) -- Stora Enso is extending its packaging offering with a new portfolio of bio-based foams from wood. The products are fully recyclable and can be used for protective and thermal packaging. Lightweight wood foams address the need for climate-friendly, renewable and circular cushioning materials in inner packaging.

Stora Enso's offering consists of Fibrease by Stora Enso and Papira by Stora Enso. Both foams come with versatile technical and sustainability properties, and customers can select a suitable foam based on their specific packaging requirements. The foams can be used for protecting fragile goods and are optimal for thermal packaging of temperature sensitive products. Fibrease is commercially available now, while the pilot plant for producing Papira has started operations at the Fors site in Sweden, following the investment announced in August 2020.

Fossil-based packaging is a major contributor to pollution, accounting for 40% of the world's plastics. Today fossil-based materials, such as plastic wrap or polystyrene foams, are widely used as cushioning and insulating materials in packaging. With Fibrease and Papira, Stora Enso now introduces renewable and climate-friendly alternatives to fossil-based packaging protection. The bio-based foams come from certified wood and are recyclable in paper recycling streams.

Stora Enso's new pilot plant aims to evaluate and validate Papira as a packaging foam in customer tests. Stora Enso's Fors site in Sweden, where the Papira pilot facility is located, produces lightweight paperboards for consumer packaging.

Stora Enso is a leading global provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wooden constructions and paper.