Stora Enso has initiated a project to certify all their paper pulp grades as compostable.
This means that Stora Enso’s paper pulp grades must fulfill specific compostability criteria according to EN 13432 standard; these are measured by an independent external party. To be considered compostable, a product has to degrade into water, carbon dioxide and compost soil within a set period of time, and it should not harm the quality of the compost.
The tests that Stora’s paper pulps are required to pass measured their material characteristics, and bleached pulps are also tested for ecotoxicity. This means that the pulp should not harm the flora that grows in the compost soil.
The results showed that the company’s pulps do not contain harmful compounds, such as heavy metals, nor do they have a negative effect on the resulting compost.
Stora Enso’s paper pulps help their customers reach their sustainability targets, as they can now apply for certification of their products as industrially or home compostable. A logo of the certification on the product helps consumers make more eco-friendly choices.