Our sustainability targets 2030: Governance

Target: Promoting sustainable and ethical practices in our supply chain

Forest certification can be used to demonstrate that a forest has been managed sustainably. Forest certification focuses on two key elements: sustainable forest management and the wood supply chain. Metsä Group has two international forest certification systems in place:  PEFC and FSC®. Owner-members are offered the opportunity to certify their forests in accordance with the PEFC and FSC systems, and are paid a higher price for certified wood. We also promote certification in cooperation with our guest suppliers.

We actively participate in the development of certification systems nationally and internationally so that the systems are suitable for northern forests and forest ownership structures.

We collect information about the origin of materials through surveys. Our goal is that the countries that produce the raw materials will be an explicit part of risk analysis, and that we can better target our background checks and audits on deliveries from high-risk countries.

We require that all our suppliers adhere to the principles of Metsä Group’s Supplier Code of Conduct. They include our minimum standards for respecting the environment and human rights, as well as responsible business practices.

We use supplier background checks, risk analyses, assessments and audits to help us with our procurement. We focus more detailed assessments on suppliers important to business continuity, or whose branch of industry or operating area involves potential risks related to sustainability. One of the key measures for assessing supplier responsibility in recent years has been the introduction of the EcoVadis tool.

We have set a shared sustainability target with all our partner suppliers. These goals include aspects such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain.

Metsä Group level activities towards 2030

Key Performance Indicators by 2030

Supporting UN sustainable development goals

Target: Promoting ethical corporate culture

At Metsä Fibre, we are committed to being ethical, responsible, reliable and transparent in all our operations.

Our work is guided by Metsä Group’s values: responsible profitability, reliability, cooperation and renewal. We always follow the laws and regulations, Metsä Group’s Code of Conduct and Metsä Group’s Policies, such as environmental, human resources and equality policy. We are also committed to respecting internationally recognised human rights. We conduct our operations with honesty, integrity, and transparency towards all our stakeholders.

Metsä Group has a set of policies and related instructions in place covering all corresponding topics for its business areas, including, for example, policies on the Environment and Human Resources as well as Equal Opportunities for Employees.

The Employee Code of Conduct is an essential part of day-to-day management. It guides our employees to follow the required ethical principles concerning conflicts of interest, competition, communication and the prevention of bribery and other fraudulent conduct. The Code of Conduct requires all employees to report any behaviour that they believe to be in breach of the instructions. They can report such behaviour to their supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the General Counsel of the Metsä Group.

We want to ensure that personal characteristics – such as gender, age, ethnic background, or sexual orientation – have no impact on an individual’s opportunity to succeed in working life. Diversity, equality, and inclusion are promoted through the Metsä For All vision and measured according to set targets. Equality training, the adoption of anonymised recruiting methods, and increasing the share of women in executive positions are examples of the practical measures we have taken in this regard.

We are committed to process personal data in accordance with the EU GDPR, which forbids the processing of special categories of data such as personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin. We do not collect such data on our employees anywhere where we operate, even if the local legislation would permit, and are committed to treat people equally regardless of the characteristics they represent.

We encourage our personnel and stakeholders to raise their concerns if they detect problems in our operations. Our Compliance and Ethics Channel is available in ten languages and its technological implementation is overseen by an independent third party. Reports can be made anonymously. We are committed to protecting the privacy of whistleblowers and do not condone any counter measures against whistleblowers.

All breaches and violations, as well as suspected breaches and violations, brought to the attention of the company are investigated. Any illegal activities detected are reported to the authorities.

Metsä Group level activities towards 2030

Key Performance Indicators by 2030

Supporting UN Sustainable Development Goals