Sustainable supply chain

As part of Metsä Group, Metsä Fibre is committed to responsible practices and ensuring sustainability throughout our supply chain. We prioritise purchasing services and products from suppliers who share our commitment to responsibility.

Our sustainability objectives for 2030 support the development of human rights, in particular responsible corporate culture and sustainable supply chain.

Human rights in our supply chain 

All our suppliers are required to adhere to the Metsä Group Code of Conduct for Suppliers, which outlines our minimum standards for environmental protection, human rights, and responsible business practices. In 2023, a remarkable 99.0 % of our procurement came from suppliers who embrace these principles.

Additionally, our suppliers are expected to respect internationally recognised human rights as declared in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO Labor Standards. They must act in compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, taking action to remedy any adverse human rights impacts they may cause. Special attention is given to possible adverse impacts on vulnerable groups or individuals, such as migrant workers.
To guide our procurement decisions, we employ supplier background checks, risk analyses, assessments, and audits. Our goal is to ensure that our partners align with our environmental, social, and economic requirements.

Metsä Group’s ethics channel serves as a platform for our suppliers to report any misconduct or concerns, helping us proactively identify risks within the supply chain.

Risk analyses

Our risk analyses are tailored to specific countries and suppliers, ensuring the sustainability of our timber supply chain. Additionally, we evaluate sustainability risks associated with other procurement by considering country risk (corruption perception index) and analyzing factors related to human rights, environmental responsibility, and financial accountability.

Assessment and audits

Before selecting a supplier, we thoroughly assess their background to identify risks related to trading requirements such as trade sanctions, money laundering, and human rights violations. Only suppliers who commit to our Supplier Code of Conduct and pass background checks are chosen.
Detailed assessments focus on suppliers critical for business continuity or operating in regions with potential sustainability risks. Contracts often include additional requirements related to safety and product safety. Based on our assessments, we provide feedback and follow up on corrective actions. Our auditors are trained to recognize signs of forced labor and labor exploitation.

We also conduct audits to verify compliance with wood certification requirements, ensuring that the wood supplied meets our environmental and sustainability standards.

We also monitor compliance with wood certification requirements through audits. This ensures that the wood supplied meets our environmental and sustainability requirements.

Our overarching goal is to assess the accountability of all key suppliers, either through audits or comprehensive questionnaires. Furthermore, we actively collaborate with selected suppliers to jointly establish sustainability targets.