In 2012, the Stora Enso Biomaterials Division was established to help the company transition and address megatrends such as urbanization, climate change and resource scarcity. Working on technology development and commercialization of bio-based chemical intermediates and by-products of the forest industry, the division is working with partners on breakthrough innovations to get the most out of wood and offer a wider range of bio-based solutions. Wood continues to be the company’s most important raw material.
New technologies are enabling the company to extract hemicellulose, sugars and lignin from biomass more efficiently and create new, value-added products from these different fragments. Through four product platforms and one technology platform, the division is transforming nonfood-competing, non-GMO, second-generation biomass into solutions. These include: