Protesters rally outside Finlandia Hall during Stora Enso AGM
Helsinki, Finland — Activists gathered outside Finlandia Hall in central Helsinki to raise awareness about alleged environmental and human rights violations linked to the Nordic forestry giant Stora Enso, as the company’s annual general meeting and shareholders’ assembly took place inside.
Demonstrators distributed leaflets to attendees and passersby, outlining what they describe as a pattern of harmful practices connected to the company’s operations across multiple regions. The protest aimed not only to call out the company itself but also to address its shareholders directly.
“We are appealing to shareholders to demand responsibility,” organizers stated. “Only clear and consistent pressure can push the company toward a genuinely sustainable path.”
Stora Enso has publicly committed to high standards in environmental protection and human rights. However, protesters argue that the company’s track record tells a different story. According to the activists, Stora Enso has been involved in several controversies affecting natural ecosystems, local communities, and workers’ rights in both Nordic countries and South America.
The group highlighted concerns ranging from forestry practices to land-use conflicts and labour conditions, claiming that these issues undermine the company’s sustainability messaging.
The demonstrators outlined several specific demands directed at Stora Enso:
- End sourcing wood from old-growth forests and commit to preserving ecologically valuable forest areas.
- Halt plantation expansion in Uruguay, echoing calls from 95 local organizations, and following numerous protests.
- Address documented abuses in Brazil, including alleged land grabs and the displacement of local communities. These issues occur in a broader context of increasingly tense land conflicts around customary land, where incidents such as the killing of indigenous activists and the recent unmotivated arrests of traditional leaders have been reported.
- Increase transparency, cease “greenwashing” and profits from green claims, and ensure independent verification of sustainability reporting.
Pressure on Shareholders
With the AGM underway inside Finlandia Hall, activists emphasized that investors play a critical role in shaping corporate behavior. By engaging shareholders directly, the protest sought to amplify pressure at a key decision-making moment for the company.
At the meeting, the Stora Enso speaker largely dismissed all the concerns raised externally during the internal discussions. Protesters, however, made clear that they intend to keep up the pressure until substantive changes are made.
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