AMSTERDAM - At the World Bio Markets (WBM) conference in Amsterdam, Stora Enso was awarded Bio-based Brand of the Year for its ongoing biomaterials transformation. Arno van de Ven, Senior Vice President, Innovation, at Stora Enso’s Biomaterials division, also gave a keynote speech on the company’s recent work developing innovative products and services based on wood and other second-generation biomass.

Traditionally a pulp and paper company, Stora Enso has increasingly focused on producing second-generation biochemicals and biomaterials through its sustainable extraction processes in order to provide novel products for new markets.

Shortlisted alongside Ikea and GFBiochemicals in WBM’s Bio-based Brand of the Year category, the judges recognized Stora Enso’s impressive new business platform based on biomass. Stora Enso was eventually chosen as the winner at a special ceremony at WBM 2016.

"This award shows that industry is recognizing our efforts to transform from a pulp and paper company into a renewable materials company," said Kirsi Seppäläinen, SVP of Communications, Stora Enso Biomaterials division, in her acceptance speech.