Diversity, equity, and inclusion

At Stora Enso, we believe in a workplace where everyone feels they are treated fairly and with respect, where their uniqueness is appreciated, and where they feel a sense of belonging. We uphold a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, harassment, and bullying, and we are dedicated to continually advancing our diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

For us, diversity means having a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experiences, and interests. At Stora Enso, we have identified increasing diversity as a key area in driving our positive performance culture. One approach to diversity is the concept of 'diversity of thought,' which acknowledges that there are multiple ways to consider a subject. To ensure this, we need to be mindful that our employees come from varied educational and experiential backgrounds.

We have set our diversity target related to gender balance, while recognising diversity embraces age, ethnicity, national origin, and other personal identity aspects. Our target is to reach 25% female managers among all managers by the end of 2024. At the end of 2023, this proportion was 24%. 

Diversity strengthens our competitiveness and contributes to better decision making by enabling us to explore new perspectives. Combined with inclusion, it supports high work satisfaction and innovation as well as agility. Inclusion is the organisational glue that makes the workplace one where everyone feels that they belong. It refers to actions that enable everyone to be their best selves, knowing that they are appreciated for who they are and what they bring to the table. Equity ensures that every employee has fair opportunities based on their individual needs, acknowledging and adjusting for imbalances.

Actions towards increased inclusion

We continuously working towards increased diversity and inclusion with a variety of actions. These include monitoring employee views on the diversity and inclusion efforts in periodic employee surveys, analysis and understanding of gaps within the company, recruitment outreach as well as unconscious bias training. We also have four Employee Resource Groups, including the Stora Enso Rainbow Alliance, which aims to create a safe and inclusive workplace for LGBTQI+ colleagues. We recognize the importance of creating a safe and inclusive workplace for all minorities, not just LGBTQI+ individuals.