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Årsredovisning 2025
• Reclassifying process waste streams as official by-products with added material value enhances material efficiency and supports the recovery of material streams. For example, the Oulu Mill in Finland has taken an active approach to reclassifying process waste streams, resulting in reduced waste generation. This aligns with the Group’s long-term commitment to maximising the value of material streams in line with the waste hierarchy, ensuring process functionality, reducing costs, and working towards zero waste. • Collaboration in a five-year research programme, ‘Emission Free Pulping’, led by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and the Swedish research institute RISE. The programme, launched in 2024, aims to significantly reduce biomass burning and increase the product yield from wood, from approximately 50% to around 70%. In 2025, close to 30 academic researchers began work toward this goal. • Development of new applications for green liquor dregs, a side stream from the pulp production process, including a forest fertiliser, a substitute for sand in fluidised beds, and a sorbent for sulphur dioxide in flue gas desulfurisation. REACH registrations are completed to ensure chemical safety for the intended uses for new products that contain green liquor dregs. • Continuous development of lignin-based products, a side stream from pulp production. Lignin is an example of where a short-lived energy product’s lifecycle can be extended to medium or long term, replacing fossil-based anode materials in electrical manufacturing. Efforts to enhance energy efficiency are described in ESRS E1-3, and water efficiency actions in ESRS E3-2. To address the risk related to dependency on upstream value chain for raw materials, Stora Enso acquired 100% of the Finnish sawmill company Junnikkala Oy. The acquired sawmills are integrated with Stora Enso’s packaging board site in Oulu, Finland, and secure a cost-efficient wood supply to the site. The acquisition was completed in May 2025. Wood-based products Stora Enso creates positive impacts and identifies opportunities in the circular economy through its wood-based products. Negative impacts are associated with the amount of outflows which are managed through the actions described below to enhance circularity and recyclability. 1) Designing for circularity and recyclability is integrated into product development to ensure that the Group’s materials are widely accepted in recycling streams and capable of being transformed into new products. This includes a focus in research and development to reduce polymer content in barrier coatings, thereby enhancing recyclability. This is a continuous action that supports the Group’s target of achieving 100% technically recyclable products by 2030. 2) Life-cycle assessments (LCAs) are conducted regularly to evaluate the environmental impacts of products across the entire value chain. By applying scientific methodology to compare materials and production options, LCAs support informed decision-making. 3) Launch of a new folding boxboard solution in 2025 for consumer packaging, which is fit for paper and board recycling streams. The board is produced at the new Oulu production line, see action 1) under ‘Resource efficiency and side streams‘. The risks associated with the Group’s products are linked to climate- related supply chain disruptions and changes in regulatory requirements. Regulatory changes can also bring opportunities by driving market growth for sustainable products and create competitive advantages through resource efficiency and renewability. To address these risks and opportunities, Stora Enso actively monitors regulatory developments and participates in trade and industry associations dedicated to advancing recycling practices in society. Value chain cooperation Stora Enso has identified opportunities to enhance the collection, sorting, and recycling infrastructure for recyclable products through partnerships and collective initiatives. The long-term, continuous action consists of various collaborations and initiatives, such as: • Improvement of collection, sorting, and recycling of post-consumer paper and packaging materials in Europe. The production site in Ostrołęka, Poland, features a beverage carton recycling facility that detaches fibers from polymers and aluminium. These fibers are then recycled into cartonboard materials, contributing to material circularity by transforming used paper-based packaging into new paper-based materials. The non-fiber fraction of the cartons, polyAI, is recovered and recycled in a dedicated facility by a Swedish packaging company Tetra Pak. • Continuous active participation in organisations, such as the cross- industry alliance 4Evergreen, which develops tools and guidelines for the packaging industry to improve the recyclability of fiber-based packaging. • Involvement in the four-year European innovation project Woodcircles, which aims to enhance the circular utilisation of wood in construction. In 2025, Stora Enso, together with project partners, produced two full-size CLT master panels – one made entirely from waste wood and one a hybrid panel made from waste wood and virgin wood. These master panels will be used in a demonstrator that will be constructed and then reassembled in various European cities as part of the project showcasing the reuse of remanufactured wood. The project continues until May 2027. Resources related to resource use and circular economy Stora Enso’s current and future resources to manage opportunities under circular economy consist of capital expenditures related to product portfolio optimisation, such as the Oulu site conversion project in Finland (Action 3 described under ‘Wood-based products’). Additional information on investments can be found in the Financial Statements, note 4.1 Intangible assets, property, plant an equipment and right-of-use assets. Stora Enso has a EUR 435 million bilateral loan with the European Investment Bank, signed in 2024, to support the financing of the Oulu investment. The loan was drawn down in 2025. In addition, Stora Enso has an outstanding green bond issued in 2023, with part of the proceeds being used to support the investment in Oulu. Additional information on interest- bearing assets and liabilities can be found in the Financial Statements, note 5.3 Interest bearing assets and liabilities. Targets related to resource use and circular economy (E5-3) Circular economy To address the opportunity related to the Group’s resource outflows associated with its products and services, Stora Enso has set a target to increase circular product design, aiming for 100% technical recyclability of its products by 2030. The target aligns with one of the core principles of the Group’s Circularity Guidelines, ‘Design for recyclability’, and relates to the EU’s waste hierarchy category ‘Recycling’. Target Scope Baseline year and value 2025 2024 100% technical recyclable products by 2030 Packaging, pulp, paper, and solid wood products, and biochemical by-products 2021: 93% 94% 94% In 2025, the rate of recyclable products remained stable compared to the previous year. Stora Enso aims to enhance product recyclability by focusing on circularity in product development and actively collaborating with customers and partners to improve recycling infrastructure. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 113 ===== SIDA 114 ===== Accounting principles Product circularity is calculated based on the technical recyclability of products and their production volumes consolidated as tonnes. The figures are based on actual weight or estimates based on weight conversion. Technical recyclability is defined by international standards and tests when available, such as those by CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) and PTS (Papiertechnische Stiftung). In the absence of such standards (for example, for materials other than packaging), Stora Enso’s own tests or estimates that prove recyclability are used. This target is not mandated by regulation and is not based on conclusive scientific evidence. External stakeholders were not involved in setting the target. Resource efficiency To address the negative impact related to residuals and waste generated in Stora Enso’s production processes, the Group has set a waste management target related to waste diverted from disposal, specifically the process residuals utilisation rate. The target aligns with the Environmental Guidelines and aims to minimise waste, relating to the EU’s waste hierarchy category ‘Other recovery’ (for example, energy recovery). Target Scope Baseline year and value 2025 2024 Continuous target to maintain a process residuals utilisation rate of minimum 98% Group’s own production sites 2017: 98% 99% 99% In 2025, performance was stable, with a high utilisation rate of process residuals. Accounting principles The figures cover process-related residuals and waste from all production sites, excluding joint operations. Residuals and waste not related to production processes are reported separately. The figures are consolidated as dry tonnes. The figures are based on actual weight or estimates. The target covers process waste and residuals, such as ash, sludge, chips, and wood waste from production units. Utilisation includes energy generation, landscaping, landfill construction, road construction, pulp manufacturing, brick and cement manufacturing, and agricultural use, as well as reclassified waste to official by-products. The scope excludes sawdust and wood cutting savings for internal pellets production. Tall oil, turpentine, lignin, sodium biosulphite, biocomposite, and soap are considered products and therefore excluded. This target is not mandated by regulation and is not based on conclusive scientific evidence. External stakeholders were not involved in setting the target. Resource inflows (E5-4) Stora Enso’s operations require significant volumes of raw materials, creating a dependency on the upstream value chain. While most of the total process material use is based on renewable materials, sourcing these raw materials has impacts on the environment. The pressure on natural resources may cause supply chain disruptions, and increasing regulation may affect raw material costs. Climate change-related impacts are described in ESRS E1. Stora Enso’s most critical raw material is wood. The Group’s fiber-based products are derived from renewable resources, primarily wood fibers from sustainably managed forests. In 2025, 93% (93%) of the total resource inflows were based on biological materials, including wood, purchased pulp, paper and board, and starch. Many of the products are FSC or PEFC certified, or receive other verification for responsible chain-of-custody and due diligence. The proportion of third-party certified wood in Stora Enso’s total wood supply was 84% (85%), resulting in a total of 76% (77%) sustainably sourced biological materials used to manufacture products in 2025. The Group applies the principle of cascading use of wood, ensuring that all parts of harvested trees, forestry residuals, and industrial side streams are used in the most economically and environmentally efficient way before being used as energy. In 2025, Stora Enso utilised 1.3 (1.3) million tonnes of Paper for Recycling (PfR) in its products, such as recycled newsprint and containerboard. By actively collecting, sorting, and recycling materials, Stora Enso helps to ensure that the value of renewable materials is prioritised, with recycled content directed toward the highest-value applications. In the reported metrics, PfR represents the category ‘secondary reused or recycled materials’. Chemicals, pigments, and fillers comprise approximately 3% (4%) of the Group’s total material use. Chemicals are assessed before purchase and use, ensuring requirements are adequately addressed for legal compliance, health and safety, environmental protection, product safety, eco-labels, and circularity. Stora Enso works to substitute dangerous chemicals and engages with suppliers to find alternative products. Plastics used for products and their packaging include fossil-based virgin plastics 49,500 (47,900) tonnes, bio-based virgin plastics 4,900 (4,600) tonnes, and recycled plastics 1,100 (1,200) tonnes. The majority of Stora Enso’s product portfolio comprises raw materials and packaging solutions designed for customers’ products. Therefore, Stora Enso’s own packaging for its products mainly consists of wrappings, end discs, pallets, core tubes, plugs, and bands. The share of packaging out of the total material inflow is less than 1%. Stora Enso is dependent on water for its production processes, as disclosed in ESRS E3. Accounting principles Metrics related to resource inflows cover biological and technical process raw materials used for products and their packaging as delivered to Stora Enso’s production units. Aligned with the Financial Statements, the figures include the joint operations according to ownership share (50%). The figures are based on actual weight measurement or delivered values. Wood is converted from delivered cubic meters to fresh tonnes (including water content) by using an average conversion factor for tree species processed by Stora Enso. The data is reported by each mill to the Group’s environmental reporting system. Metrics related to resource inflows, thousand tonnes 2025 2024 Wood 33,934 31,743 Purchased pulp, paper and board 623 620 Starch 124 114 Total weight of biological materials 34,681 32,477 Chemicals 812 819 Pigments and fillers 443 417 Plastics 56 54 Recycled board and paper 1,311 1,329 Total weight of technical materials 2,622 2,618 Total weight of materials 37,303 35,095 Sustainably sourced biological materials used to manufacture the products, % 76% 77% Secondary reused or recycled materials, % 4% 4% Secondary reused or recycled materials 1,312 1,330 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 114 ===== SIDA 115 ===== Resource outflows (E5-5) Products and materials Stora Enso contributes to circular economy through its products and solutions that enable customers to respond to the growing consumer demand on sustainable products. Through an in-depth customer understanding and close relationships with its customers, the Group designs products to be functional and value-adding throughout their lifecycle. The Circularity Guidelines are disclosed in ESRS E5-1, and actions regarding circular products and solutions in ESRS E5-2. The technical recyclability of products is disclosed in E5-3. Since Stora Enso is mainly a producer of materials rather than products, the expected product durability and repairability are not relevant for the Group’s reporting. Stora Enso has an opportunity to contribute to society with renewable raw materials and solutions: wood-based products serve as alternatives to fossil-based materials, and can be recycled or used for energy at the end of their lifecycle. The Group also provides recycling solutions and services through its use of recycled materials (packaging and paper), and in its partnerships and investments in recycling infrastructure. Key products and materials from production sites consist of packaging, pulp, paper, and solid wood products as well as biochemical by-products. The majority materials used in products and their packaging are renewable, including wood, recycled board and paper, and starch. Most of Stora Enso’s products are either raw materials or packaging designed for customers’ products. Therefore, Stora Enso’s own packaging for its products mainly consist of wrappings and pellets. The share of packaging in the total materials and products put on the market is less than 1%. Accounting principles The rate of recyclable content in products is calculated according to the principles disclosed in ESRS E5-3, based on the technical recyclability of products and their production volumes consolidated as tonnes. The figures are based on actual weight or estimates based on weight conversion. When calculating the rate, the numerator is the weight of the recyclable content in the products and their packaging, while the denominator is the total weight of the products and their packaging. To avoid double-counting, internal deliveries are eliminated from the figures. Metrics related to resource outflows, % 2025 2024 Rate of recyclable content in products and products packaging 94% 92% Waste In 2025, total amount of waste generated was 1,354 (1,365) thousand tonnes, out of which 92% (93%) was diverted from disposal. The majority of the generated waste constituted of bark and mixed sludge. Stora Enso’s sites generate and distribute energy to local district heating systems and industrial partners, largely based on the incineration of harvesting and production process residuals. For more information, see ESRS E1-5. Accounting principles Stora Enso’s waste reporting builds upon relevant EU legislative frameworks and policies including the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Waste Framework Directive) and the EU industrial strategy. For forest industry, the relevant waste streams include ash, sludge, chips, and wood waste from production units. The figures include waste from all production units. In addition, aligned with the Financial Statements, the figures include the Group’s joint operations according to ownership share (50%). The waste generated at offices are included based on estimates. Diversion from disposal includes energy generation, landscaping, landfill construction, road construction, pulp manufacturing, brick and cement manufacturing, and agricultural use. Materials with official by-product status are excluded from the reported waste. Official by-products include methanol, bark, ash, tall oil, turpentine, sodium biosulphite, and soap. Sawdust and wood cuttings used for internal pellet production are also excluded, as they are used internally. The waste figures are consolidated as dry tonnes, and the figures are based on actual weight measurement. The only exception is hazardous waste, which is reported in its original state. The data is reported by each mill to the Group’s environmental reporting system. Metrics related to resource outflows, thousand tonnes 2025 2024 Total amount of waste diverted from disposal 1,250 1,273 Non-hazardous waste 1,248 1,249 Preparation for reuse 45 42 Recycling 303 219 Other recovery operations 900 988 Hazardous waste (incl. radioactive) 2 24 Preparation for reuse 1 22 Recycling 0 0 Other recovery operations 1 1 Total amount of waste directed to disposal 104 92 Non-hazardous waste 59 47 Incineration 8 1 Landfill 42 40 Other disposal operations 9 6 Hazardous waste (incl. radioactive) 45 45 Incineration 1 2 Landfill 43 41 Other disposal operations 1 1 Total amount of waste generated 1,354 1,365 Total amount of non-recycled waste 1,051 1,145 Percentage of non-recycled waste 78% 84% Total amount of hazardous waste 47 69 Total amount of radioactive waste 0 0 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 115 ===== SIDA 116 ===== Social information In this section E S R S S 1 O w n w o r k f o r c e ........................................................................................ 116 E S R S S 2 W o r k e r s i n t h e v a l u e c h a i n ................................................................. 123 E S R S S 3 A f f e c t e d c o m m u n i t i e s ......................................................................... 126 E S R S S 1 Own workforce Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 116 Material impacts, risks and opportunities (ESRS 2 SBM-3) Description Impact, risk, or opportunity Time horizon Location in the value chain Related sub-topic or sub-sub-topic Stora Enso provides employment for approximately 19,000 people and supports work-related rights, including freedom of association and collective bargaining. The Group pays adequate wages in line with or above legal requirements. Actual positive impact Short, medium, and long term Own operations, joint operations Secure employment; Social dialogue; Freedom of association; Adequate wages Promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster engagement and to enhance collaboration and performance. Actual positive impact Short term Own operations Diversity; Gender equality and equal pay for work of equal value Despite preventive safety measures, safety incidents still occur, particularly at the production sites. Some sites have a higher risk level due to specific equipment and labour-intensive processes. Actual negative impact Short, medium, and long term Own operations, joint operations Health and safety Uncertainty caused by a volatile market environment and related organisational changes can negatively affect employees’ well-being and overall commitment. Actual negative impact Short term Own operations Secure employment Stora Enso’s commercial success and strategic implementation depend on skilled personnel. The competitive market for top talent poses challenges in attracting and retaining qualified staff. Losing key employees, failing to attract or train new ones, or hiring delays could significantly harm the business and hinder the Group’s strategic goals. Risk Short, medium, and long term Own operations Secure employment Despite proactive measures to identify and manage safety risks, serious or fatal injuries to employees, contractors, or third parties may still occur. Beyond physical harm, health effects, and environmental damage, consequences could include liability issues, reputational damage, challenges in attracting and retaining skilled workers, and potential temporary shutdowns enforced by government authorities. Risk Short, medium, and long term Own operations, joint operations Health and safety Driving competitiveness through reorganisation: a new, flatter organisation designed to maximise customer focus, enhance operational efficiency, and unlock further performance potential. Opportunity Short and medium term Own operations Training and skills development ===== SIDA 117 ===== S1 disclosure requirement related to ESRS 2 SBM-3 Stora Enso’s actual and potential impacts, risks, and opportunities originate from the Group’s business model and contribute to adapting the Group’s strategy. The disclosure on ESRS S1 covers all individuals in Stora Enso’s own workforce who could be materially impacted by the Group. This includes those employed directly by the Stora Enso, as well as safety of contractors working at the Group’s premises. Through its operations, Stora Enso directly impacts approximately 19,000 (19,000) employees. In addition to its own employees, the Group also works with workers classified as non- employees by ESRS, as there are often contractor employees working at the production sites. The annual maintenance of mills leads to a temporary increase in the number of contractor workers. Furthermore, Stora Enso relies on contractors for the De Jong units in the Netherlands, as well as its forestry operations and packaging units in China. The identified positive impacts are a result of a proactive approach in fostering an inclusive workplace and offering employment opportunities grounded in responsible practices. The impacts are directed towards its own employees, though these impacts may vary between different locations and countries. Stora Enso acknowledges that employees at its production sites have a higher likelihood of safety incidents. Certain sites have been identified as having a higher risk level due to the nature of their operations, which involve specific equipment and labour-intensive processes. The negative impacts caused by uncertainty and organisational restructuring result from the company’s efforts to establish a leaner, flatter organisation with seven P&L responsible business areas, reflecting the strategic importance of renewable packaging in its core business portfolio. This impacts nearly all of Stora Enso’s operations. The organisational restructuring is also connected to an opportunity to unlock further performance potential. The Group recognises its dependency on talented workforce and the risk of challenges in attracting and retaining skilled personnel. Through active actions, it aims to retain top-tier talents who are crucial for implementing the Group’s business model and strategy, and achieving commercial success. Stora Enso’s material impacts do not arise from transition plans for reducing negative impacts on the environment, or achieving greener and climate-neutral operations. The Group has not identified countries, or geographic areas within in its own operations with a heightened risk of compulsory, forced, or child labour. Policies related to own workforce (S1-1) The minimum requirement is that all policies and guidelines are to be reviewed at least once every two years. Each policy owner shall ensure that the documents under their responsibility are reviewed and updated within the defined time frame. Occupational Health and Safety Policy The policy addresses managing safety risks and potential negative impacts from safety incidents. It outlines safety objectives and governance for health and safety management, integrating them into annual planning and reporting. The scope of the policy covers the Group’s own employees and those working on behalf of Stora Enso. The line organisation is responsible for the implementation of the policy. Stora Enso has a safety management system for managing occupational health and safety risks, certified according to ISO 45001:2018. In 2025, 44 (42) out of 58 (57) production sites were externally certified according to the ISO standard. Stora Enso Code The Code sets a single set of values for all employees and provides them with the tools to make the right decisions in their work, while promoting transparency and ethics. In relation to topics concerning its own workforce (ESRS S1), the policy addresses risks associated with retaining skilled personnel and preventing potential negative impacts related to discrimination, bullying, or harassment. It also helps to maintain positive impacts related to equal opportunities and treatment. All Stora Enso employees are required to complete the Code training. The scope of the policy covers the Group’s own employees, and EVP Legal, General Counsel, is accountable for ensuring its implementation. Diversity Policy The Diversity Policy outlines the commitment to an inclusive workplace where individual differences are respected and people have equal opportunities. Similar to the Code, the policy addresses managing actual positive impacts related a diverse and inclusive workplace and the potential negative impacts if failing to take adequate actions. According to the policy, no employee shall face discrimination in hiring, compensation, working hours, advancement, discipline, termination, or retirement based on ethnicity, national or social origin, caste, birth, religion, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, family responsibilities, union membership, political affiliation, age, or any other characteristic that could lead to discrimination. The scope of the policy covers the Group’s own employees, and EVP, People and Communication, is accountable for ensuring its implementation. To prevent, mitigate, and address discrimination once detected, all employees are required to complete Code training. Additionally, appropriate reporting channels for raising concerns and addressing non- compliance are established. Promotion of actions to advance diversity and inclusion are described in ESRS S1-4. Minimum Human Resources Requirements for Labour Conditions The Minimum Human Resources Requirements for Labour Conditions establish a set of minimum requirements for all employees to ensure they are treated with respect and fairness. This is linked to a positive impact achieved through a working environment where employees are motivated and able to perform effectively in their positions. The requirements also address the risk related to dependency on skilled workforce. The scope of the policy covers the Group’s own employees, and EVP, People and Communication, is accountable for ensuring its implementation. Human Rights Policy and Guidelines In relation to its own workforce, the Human Rights Policy and Human Rights Guidelines address positive impacts related to fair employment practices and secure employment. Stora Enso adheres to The United Nation’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Stora Enso is also committed to those rights set out in the International Bill of Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, as outlined in the Human Rights Guidelines. Alignment with these principles is reflected in the Group’s commitment to respecting human rights across its operations and business relationships, and conducting human rights due diligence to identify, assess, and remedy any adverse human rights impacts. The guidelines outline the approach and commitment towards salient human rights issues, of which the relevant for the Group’s own workforce are: right to a safe workplace, fair employment conditions, and access to grievance mechanisms. The processes to monitor compliance with aforementioned international standards consists of: • Ensuring grievance mechanisms are in place and accessible for everyone. • Reported non-compliance cases. • Sedex Member Ethical Data Audits (SMETA) conducted regularly, assessing performance against applicable labour standards, as well as health and safety, environmental, and business ethics criteria. • Annually published Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement describes the Group’s actions to prevent modern slavery in its operations and supply chains, in accordance with the United Kingdom’s Modern Slavery Act 2015 and the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 117 ===== SIDA 118 ===== The Human Rights Policy outlines the Group’s objectives for engaging with affected and potentially affected stakeholders to ensure that its approach and focus on human rights are valid. Engagement with own workforce is described in ESRS S1-2. Stora Enso collaborates with stakeholders, affected individuals, and their representatives to find appropriate remedies, including situations where violations are committed by third parties connected to the Group’s operations, products, or services. Stora Enso does not obstruct the access of affected stakeholders to other remedy initiatives. The scope of the policy and guidelines covers the Group’s own operations and all business relationships in the upstream and downstream value chain. EVP, Strategy and Sustainability, is accountable for ensuring the implementation of the policy and guidelines. Stora Enso is aligned with the OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, the human rights-related principles of the UN Global Compact, and relevant Children’s Rights and Business Principles. The Human Rights Guidelines also address trafficking in human beings, and forced, compulsory, and child labour. When setting policies related to its own workforce, the interests of employees were considered by gathering insights into their perspectives t h r o u g h e n g a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s d e s c r i b e d i n E S R S S 1 - 2 . T h e p o l i c i e s l i s t e d above are made available on the Group’s intranet as well as externally on the Group’s website (except for Minimum Human Resources Requirements for Labour Conditions). The afore listed policies focus on inclusion of all employee groups without specific commitment to individuals from groups at particular risk of vulnerability within the Group’s own workforce. Processes for engaging with own workforce and workers’ representatives about impacts (S1-2) Stora Enso actively engages with its workforce and workers’ representatives regarding actual and potential impacts through a variety of channels and methods at different stages of the employee life cycle. The annual all-employee survey, Engage, is a vital tool for collecting perspectives and providing necessary insight to help teams and the Group to improve. The survey also includes a series of questions related to employees’ perceptions of sense of belonging, feeling valued, and fair opportunities. The results are reviewed by the Group Leadership Team and the Board of Directors, ensuring that employee perspectives are considered in decision-making. In 2025, the Engage survey was conducted once, but starting from 2026 it will be carried out twice a year. The survey also servers as the primary means for tracking effectiveness of engagement. Additionally, ‘All Employee’ calls provide an opportunity for employees to anonymously submit questions and feedback to top management. These calls are arranged bi-monthly, or more frequently if needed. They also serve to inform employees about relevant impacts that affect all employees, including topics such as safety. The group-level initiatives are complemented by various other channels, such as town halls, and personal development discussions. The overall responsibility for the engagement lies with the EVP, People and Communication, whereas the business areas have the operational responsibility on implementation and monitoring. Stora Enso’s occupational health and safety accountability lies within business areas with clearly defined governance practices to promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organisation. Safety Sponsor is a Group Leadership Team member elected by the CEO for a two-year term to support the safety management and secure reporting of safety matters to the CEO and designated other forums. When necessary, relevant stakeholders such as workers’ representatives, contractors, and suppliers are consulted to ensure their input and perspectives are considered in safety-related decisions and initiatives. The majority of engagement takes place at the mills through ongoing, regular activities such as discussions, trainings, and safety walks to identify areas for improvement. The annual Safety Week is organised to share good safety practices among employees and contractors and to support the development of a safer working environment. In 2025, a new question was added to the Engage survey to assess whether employees perceive safety as a top priority at Stora Enso. Stora Enso has a Global Framework Agreement with the labour unions IndustriAll, UniGlobal, and BWI, which serves to protect the interests of workers with consistent standards across the Group’s operations. Stora Enso also works closely with the European Works Council to provide an open and confidential information and consultation procedure between the Company and its employees on the EU/EEA level. The engagement involves yearly meetings with a wider group of union representatives, as well as regular meetings following each Board meeting where the CEO updates the subgroup of key union representatives on the topics discussed during the Board meeting. Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for own workforce to raise concerns (S1-3) Stora Enso provides remedy in situations where its activities have caused or contributed to an adverse impact on employees and engages with affected stakeholders to agree on the best solution for remediation. The effectiveness is assessed case by case and according to the local legislation. Employees are encouraged to feel safe and comfortable speaking up, and as outlined in the Code, Stora Enso does not tolerate any retaliation against a person who in good faith reports misconduct. During periods of restructuring and uncertainty, Stora Enso provides support through occupational health services. In restructuring situations, Stora Enso is committed to working closely together with the Group’s other locations, the local community, and other relevant stakeholders to support the re-employment and training of the affected employees. The majority of Stora Enso employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements, and in situations involving organisational restructuring, consultation processes with trade unions are carried out according to local legislation and relevant collective bargaining agreements. Reporting of suspected non-compliances is facilitated via any of the Group’s grievance channels, be it personal contact with manager or human resources, e-mail, letter, phone, or anonymously via the third-party ‘Speak Up’ reporting channel. The process for tracking and monitoring issues raised is described in ESRS G1-1 ‘Non-compliances and protection of whistleblowers’. The Code e-learning is mandatory for all employees and available in thirteen languages. In addition to the mandatory training, the effectiveness of the channels is supported through communication activities and awareness raising described in ESRS G1-1 ‘Ethical corporate culture’. As part of the Engage survey, the Group tracks how safe employees feel to speak up or report their concern in case they suspect or experience any form of misconduct. The safety reporting tool is used to report safety observations, aiding in the identification and resolution of unsafe situations. Safety incidents are thoroughly investigated, findings are shared with the Safety Network, and appropriate preventive measures are implemented to prevent the recurrence of similar negative impacts in the future. The European Works Council meets once a year with representatives selected from each country that has production units employing at least 150 employees. Through their representatives, every Stora Enso employee has the opportunity to raise topics and ask questions to the Group Leadership Team. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 118 ===== SIDA 119 ===== Taking action on material impacts on own workforce, and approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to own workforce, and effectiveness of those actions (S1-4) The following key actions are implemented within Stora Enso’s own operations, with safety measures also covering contractors working at the Group’s premises. The process for determining group-wide actions is primarily guided by the People Promise and Expectations framework, the results of the employee engagement survey, proactive safety management findings, and external benchmarks and industry trends. Occupational safety The following actions are undertaken to prevent risks related to safety incidents that may result in actual negative impacts. They contribute to the achievement of the Occupational Health and Safety Policy objectives and Group’s safety target (TRI rate). 1) The implementation of the new Safety Principles, introduced in 2024, was carried out across business units during 2025. These principles establish the foundation for safe operations and behaviour throughout the organisation. Complementing them are the Life-Saving Rules, updated in 2025, from which each unit is required to identify the most critical ones and ensure they are consistently followed. 2) The leading indicator, Safety Engagement Rate, focuses on proactive safety reporting to identify safety risks. In each business areas, safety engagement is measured as a leading indicator, with specific targets related to, for example, safety observations, notifications or improvement ideas, reporting of near misses, and safety walks. This is an ongoing action across all production sites. 3) To further emphasise the Group’s commitment to safety within the value chain, a new key performance indicator was introduced in 2025. The indicator assesses the total number of recordable injuries among both its own employees and contractors (full TRI rate), see ESRS S1-5. The effectiveness of the above actions is measured through safety observations and near misses reported, and performance against business unit targets on the leading safety indicator and the Group TRI rate. Diversity, equity, and inclusion Stora Enso has positive impacts on enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within its own workforce. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) contribute to enhanced satisfaction and well-being at work and are strong enablers of improved performance, collaboration, and innovation. Key actions to promote equal treatment and opportunities for all, in accordance with the objectives of the Diversity Policy are outlined below. The initiatives also contribute to the achievement of the target on reaching 25% representation of female managers among all managers. 1) Each module in the leadership programmes described later on this page contains DE&I aspects to ensure that managers and leaders are equipped to foster inclusive environments, recognise diverse perspectives, and lead through change. 2) In Finland, a voluntary equality survey was conducted in 2025 to gain further insight into employees’ perspectives on inclusion and equity at the local level and to plan tailored actions accordingly. The results were also incorporated into Stora Enso’s gender equality and equity plan in Finland. 3) As on ongoing action, Stora Enso participates in the Female Leader Engineer talent programme for students with an interest in leadership, specifically connecting women and non-binary students in engineering with the industry. The company has been a member of the programme in Sweden since 2017, and in 2025, the initiative was also launched in Finland. 4) Majority of the DE&I initiatives is managed within the business areas. For instance, a DE&I programme was implemented in one business area in 2025, aimed at equipping management teams with tools to evaluate the current status, identify improvement opportunities, and execute targeted DE&I actions. The programme, involving around 160 leaders in six countries, also focused on skill development for people leaders. Effectiveness of the measures is tracked through employee engagement survey, performance and career development reviews, gender pay gap analysis, and progress against the Group target on gender balance. Leadership and performance culture The key actions to manage positive impacts on workforce retention, to mitigate any risks associated with failure to do so, as well as to drive the opportunity through strong performance culture are described below. These actions are aligned with the Diversity Policy’s ambition to ensure that the people in the organisation possess the capabilities and engagement required to deliver on the Group’s strategy. 1) In 2025, a new leadership programme portfolio was launched to drive innovation and foster a culture of trust, collaboration, and strong performance. It supports managers and leaders in leading themselves, their teams, and business transformation. The portfolio includes modules tailored to different stages of the leadership journey. The programme continues in the coming years (short to medium term). 2) For the second consecutive year, the Business Leaders Forum was held in 2025, bringing together 150 Stora Enso leaders. The event focused on the ongoing transformation toward sustainable and profitable growth, driven by a strong, value-based performance culture. 3) In 2025, Stora Enso announced a new organisational structure that decentralises P&L responsibility across seven business areas, bringing it closer to customers and operations. The change aims to enhance decision-making and mandate, connected to the opportunity to drive competitiveness. 4) As an ongoing action, talent development and upskilling plans are part of performance and development reviews to support individual career planning. The aim is that all employees are involved in at least one formal performance and development review with their manager each year. Additionally, regular check-ins between managers and employees are supported by automated reminders in the HR system. Furthermore, efforts to enhance inclusion also contribute to talent retention, see actions in ‘Diversity, equity, and inclusion’. For the effectiveness of the actions, Stora Enso tracks the outcomes of the annual Engage survey. Targets related to managing material negative impacts, advancing positive impacts, and managing material risks and opportunities (S1-5) Diversity Stora Enso has established a target related to the ESRS S1 sub-topic ‘Equal treatment and opportunities for all’, aimed at advancing actual positive impacts of diversity within its own workforce. The target is in line with the Diversity Policy. The Group’s updated diversity target is effective as of 2025, with progress measured against the baseline value set on 31 December 2024. Target Scope Baseline year and value 2025 2024 25% representation of female managers among all managers by the end of 2027 Managers with at least one direct report 2024: 24% 24% 24% At the end of 2025, the share of female managers was 24%, progressing in line towards the targeted level of 25% by year-end 2027. Advancing gender balance continues as a key focus area and is incorporated into the variable remuneration scheme. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 119 ===== SIDA 120 ===== Accounting principles The share of female managers is calculated as the headcount of all permanent managers with at least one direct report. The manager must be permanent, but the subordinates can be temporary or permanent. Most of the data comes directly from the HR management system, with the exception of one small unit, representing less than 1% of the data. Target excludes joint operations. The People and Culture organisation, representing own employees, was closely involved in target setting. The People and Culture organisation is also responsible for tracking performance against the target and identifying improvement areas. External stakeholders were not included in the target setting. Occupational health and safety Stora Enso has established a target under the ESRS S1 sub-topic ‘Health and Safety’, focusing on managing risks and addressing actual negative impacts of safety incidents. Stora Enso uses the Total Recordable Incident (TRI) rate as its main key lagging performance indicator (KPI), as this provides a comprehensive overview of safety performance, including less severe accidents. The target is set for one year at a time, based on the outcome of the previous year’s safety performance. The focus is on continuous improvement. In 2025, the Group extended the target from its own workforce to also cover contractors working on its premises, with progress measured against the baseline value set on 31 December 2024. The target is in line with the Group’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy. Target Scope Baseline year and value 2025 2024 Total recordable incident rate: 4.3 by the end of 2025 Own and joint operations’ employees, contractors working at the Group’s premises 2024: 4.6 4.5 New target as of 2025 In 2025, safety performance improved slightly from the baseline but did not meet the target level. Stora Enso continues to identify areas for improvement, with safety remaining a top priority. Accounting principles The KPI relies on incidents reported in Stora Enso’s safety management system. The reported TRI rate shows the number of recordable incidents as per one million hours worked, and covers Group’s own and joint operations’ employees as well as contractors working at its premises. Safety Network, representing Group’s own employees, is closely involved in the target setting. External stakeholders were not included in the target setting. Stora Enso has not established targets related to policy implementation. Characteristics of the undertaking’s employees (S1-6) Accounting principles Stora Enso’s reporting on headcount covers its own employees. Aligned with the Financial Statements, the total number of employees include the Group’s joint operations according to the ownership share (50%). The other figures reported under S1-6 are reported without joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and the Group. Employee figures reflect the end-of-year situation and are rounded to the nearest fifty. For additional information on the average number of employees in each business segment, see Financial Statements, note 2.1 Segment information. The headcount per country includes countries where the Group has at least 1,850 employees, which represents at least 10% of its total number of employees. Since persons cannot legally register as having a third, often neutral, gender in Stora Enso’s major operating countries, the ‘Other’ category is not included in the gender split reporting due to sensitivity of the data although presented in the table. Same applies to category 'Not reported’. The data for turnover is collected through HR system and local payroll, and covers permanent employees. The turnover is calculated as leavers that include all who left the company during the reporting year, excluding divestments, and divided by average headcount. There are minor deviations due to different data sources. Number of employees by gender 2025 2024 Male 13,950 13,950 Female 4,600 4,650 Other n/a n/a Not reported n/a n/a Total employees 18,550 18,600 Number of employees by countries 2025 2024 Finland 4,950 4,950 Sweden 3,350 3,400 China 2,350 2,300 Poland 1,850 1,900 2025 Employees by contract type, broken down by gender Female Male Other Not disclosed Total Number of employees 4,600 13,950 n/a n/a 18,550 Number of permanent employees 3,750 12,250 n/a n/a 16,000 Number of temporary employees 600 1,100 n/a n/a 1,700 Number of non-guaranteed hours employees 0 50 n/a n/a 50 2024 Employees by contract type, broken down by gender Female Male Other Not disclosed Total Number of employees 4,650 13,950 n/a n/a 18,600 Number of permanent employees 3,800 12,200 n/a n/a 16,000 Number of temporary employees 600 1,150 n/a n/a 1,750 Number of non-guaranteed hours employees 0 50 n/a n/a 50 Metrics related to employees 2025 2024 Employee turnover % 9% 13% Number of employee who have left the undertaking 1,550 2,200 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 120 ===== SIDA 121 ===== Collective bargaining coverage and social dialogue (S1-8) Accounting principles Stora Enso’s reporting on collective bargaining covers the employees within the European Economic Area. The percentage is presented only for countries with significant employment, defined as 1,850 number of employees representing at least 10% of its total number of employees. At the end of 2025, approximately 89% (88%) of Stora Enso’s employees were covered by collective bargaining agreements. The number is an estimate due to differences in national legislation. The global percentage of employees covered by workers’ representatives is reported for each country within the European Economic Area that meets the requirement on significant employment, defined as 1,850 number of employees, which represents at least 10% of its total number of employees. Stora Enso Oyj has had an agreement on European Corporate Cooperation in place since 1999. In 2015, the European Works Council (EWC) agreement was updated according to the EWC’s proposal. The purpose of the collaboration is to establish and develop an open, confidential information and consultation procedure between the company and its employees on EEA level. The agreement establishes that a cooperation meeting shall take place each year to discuss strategy and business topics. Collective bargaining coverage Social dialogue Collective bargaining coverage rate Employees – EEA Workplace representation (EEA only) 0-19% 20-39% 40-59% 60-79% 80-100% Finland, Sweden, Poland Finland, Sweden, Poland Diversity metrics (S1-9) Accounting principles Stora Enso defines its top management as the CEO and Group Leadership Team which means one and two levels below the highest operational administrative and supervisory body (Board of Directors) The data is collected through its HR management system and covers 100% of the Group Leadership Team. The data for age distribution in workforce is collected through the Group’s HR management system, which covers over 99% of the Group’s employees. The figures are reported without joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and the Group. Metrics related to top management 2025 2024 Number of employees at top management level Male 8 7 Female 4 4 % of employees at top management level Male 67% 64% Female 33% 36% Age distribution in workforce (in %) 2025 2024 Under 30 years old 12% 12% 30-50 years old 55% 55% Over 50 years old 33% 33% Adequate wages (S1-10) All Stora Enso’s own employees are paid an adequate wage when reviewed in accordance with the ESRS disclosure requirement and using Wageindicator benchmark. The figures exclude joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and the Group. The benchmark study is conducted every two years, with the most recent study conducted in 2024. Health and safety metrics (S1-14) Accounting principles Stora Enso reports incidents and accidents using international Occupational Health and Safety (OHSA) definitions when reporting Total Recordable Incident (TRI). Due to the inherent nature of occupational safety, the joint operations are consolidated at 100%. Stora Enso also monitors contractor accidents in separate categories for on-site accidents and logistics incidents. The percentage of people in Stora Enso’s own workforce who are covered by health and safety management systems refers to the proportion of total employees covered by externally certified safety management systems, such as ISO 45001. Certain administrative functions and sales offices are currently excluded from the Group’s safety figures due to limited data availability, which is related to a relatively small headcount and lower occupational safety risk compared to production units. These units represent approximately 10% of the total workforce. The rate of recordable work-related accidents for own workforce represents the number of work-related injuries per one million hours worked. The figure is calculated by dividing the number of work-related injuries by the number of total hours worked by people in the company’s own workforce, multiplied by one million. The TRI rate for own employees and contractors is disclosed in ESRS S1-5. The number of recordable work-related accidents for own workforce is reported based on the international Occupational Health and Safety (OHSA) definitions. The data is collected in the Group’s Health and Safety reporting system. Stora Enso recognises a marginal error due to the partial system coverage. Fatalities are reported for cases occurring at Stora Enso’s sites and premises. In 2025, a fatal accident involving a contractor’s employee occurred at Stora Enso’s Oulu site in Finland. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 121 ===== SIDA 122 ===== Metrics related to health and safety 2025 2024 % of people in its own workforce who are covered by health and safety management system 95% 87% Rate of recordable work-related accidents for own workforce 6.7 5.2 Number of recordable work-related accidents for own workforce 223 177 Fatalities in own workforce as result of work-related injuries Employees 0 0 Non-employees 1 0 Fatalities as result of work-related injuries of other workers working on undertaking's sites 0 0 Remuneration metrics (pay gap and total remuneration) (S1-16) Accounting principles The gender pay gap has been calculated by counting the difference between the male’s and female’s hourly salaries and dividing that by the male’s salary. Salary data has been retrieved from the HR system or local payroll. The figure is reported without joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and the Group. The calculation includes only base salary, excluding short- and long-term incentives. The annual total remuneration ratio is defined as the ratio of the annual total remuneration of the highest-paid individual to the median annual total remuneration of all employees (excluding the highest-paid individual). The median remuneration data is retrieved from the HR system and local payroll, and includes only base and holiday salary, bonuses, one- time payments from HR system, and long-term incentive schemes. Additional benefits are excluded as the data is not available in the system. The missing data is estimated to not impact the results. The figure excludes joint operations. For additional information on remuneration, see Financial Statements, note 3. Employee remuneration. Metrics related to remuneration 2025 2024 Gender pay gap 5.4% 7.0% Annual Total Remuneration ratio 52.5 41.8 Incidents, complaints and severe human rights impacts (S1-17) Accounting principles The number of incidents of discrimination include all reported cases during the year covering the Group’s own workforce (includes proven, non- proven, cases handed over, and reported but investigation not yet completed). The metric related to number of complaints filed through channels for people in own workforce to raise concerns covers all reported complaints related to threats and violent behaviour, unfair working conditions, and work health and safety violations. The figures exclude incidents investigated by the joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and the Group. Metrics related to incidents and complaints 2025 2024 Number of incidents of discrimination 52 25 Number of complaints filed through channels for people in own workforce to raise concerns 13 15 In 2025, there were no fines or penalties as a result of the incidents and complaints disclosed in the table above. There were also no severe human rights incidents connected to Stora Enso’s own workforce. Therefore, reconciliation to Financial Statements is not presented. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 122 ===== SIDA 123 ===== ESRS S2 Workers in the value chain S2 disclosure requirement related to ESRS 2 SBM-3 Stora Enso’s disclosure on ESRS S2 addresses value chain workers who are likely to be materially impacted by the Group, particularly those in the upstream value chain governed by the Supplier Code of Conduct. Due to industrial working environment, value chain workers at Stora Enso’s sites may face higher safety risks. The safety of these employees is covered under ESRS S1. The impacts on value chain workers originate from Stora Enso’s business model and strategy, moreover, the risk of non-compliances and safety incidents connected to its dependency on raw materials and external personnel. While these have not led to adaptations in the business model or strategy, the Group has expanded its safety target to include value chain workers performing activities at its sites, effective from 2025. Stora Enso continuously identifies and assesses potential and actual adverse impacts related to human rights and defines preventive and mitigating actions accordingly. When identifying value chain workers who are or could be negatively affected, Stora Enso focused on high-risk geographies as well as identified high-risk supplier categories. Those in more vulnerable positions include migrant workers in the forest and Paper for Recycling sectors, as well as contract employees in China. Stora Enso regards the risk of child and forced labour as a material issue because any actual violation would severely impact the affected individuals and result in significant financial repercussions for the Group. Stora Enso has not identified any specific geographies with a significant risk of child, forced, or compulsory labour, however, there are operations in areas where the risk is heightened. Policies related to value chain workers (S2-1) The below policies relate to the risk resulting from the violation of Stora Enso’s ethical business practices and values. The minimum requirement is that all policies and guidelines are to be reviewed at least once every two years. Each policy owner shall ensure that the documents under their responsibility are reviewed and updated within the defined time frame. Human Rights Policy and Guidelines Stora Enso works to ensure that human rights are respected throughout its operations and business relationships. It takes human rights into account across its operations from investment decisions onwards, paying special attention to vulnerable groups, and encourages its partners to do the same. The Human Rights Policy outlines Stora Enso’ commitment to ensuring respect for human rights following the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The policy requires suppliers and other business partners to respect human and labour rights and comply with the Group’s policies and guidelines. The Human Rights Guidelines address the salient human rights topics, such as fair labour, access to grievance mechanisms, and children’s rights. Stora Enso strives to prevent and eliminate all forms of forced labour in its operations and supply chains, including modern slavery, child labour, and debt bondage. Both the policy and guidelines aim to mitigate the prevention of the risk of non- compliance with Stora Enso’s standards in the Group’s own operations and upstream value chain. See further details on the Human Rights Policy, Human Rights Guidelines, and adherence to internationally recognised human and labour rights and standards in ESRS S1-1. Through its Human Rights Policy, Stora Enso commits to engaging with affected and potentially affected stakeholders, including value chain workers, to ensure that its approach and focus are valid. The company is also committed to remedying situations where its activities have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts, and engages with affected stakeholders in finding the most appropriate solution. These solutions depend on the needs of the affected people and the specifics of each case. Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC) The SCoC is a legally binding document that imposes sustainability requirements on Stora Enso’s suppliers and needs to be signed as part of the pre-qualification. In addition to environmental topics, the SCoC covers areas such as human and labour rights, involuntary labour, occupational health and safety, ethical recruitment, and fair remuneration. The SCoC helps manage material risk related to the breach of these requirements occurring in the Group’s own operations or upstream value chain. The policy obliges suppliers to respect the ILO Convention 138 on abolition of child labour. It does not explicitly address precarious work. See ESRS E1-2 for more details on the SCoC. The Occupational Health and Safety policy, which addresses the risk and actual negative impact related to the safety of workers in the value chain working at the Group’s sites and premises, is outlined in ESRS S1-1. By the end of 2025, Stora Enso had not become aware of any severe cases of human rights incidents related to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work or OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that involve value chain workers. The Group is informed of incidents of non-respect through internal audits, grievance mechanisms, and third-party supplier audits, which include aspects such as occupational safety and labour rights. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 123 Material impacts, risks and opportunities (SBM-3) Description Impact, risk, or opportunity Time horizon Location in the value chain Related sub-topic or sub-sub-topic Despite preventive safety measures, safety incidents still occur.1 Actual negative impact Short, medium, and long term Upstream, own operations, joint operations Health and safety Risk of safety incidents for the workers in the value chain. Severe incidents in the value chain may damage Stora Enso’s reputation and brand, which may result in a loss of investor and customer confidence leading to higher cost of capital and decreased revenues.1 Risk Short, medium, and long term Upstream, own operations, joint operations Health and safety Risk of non-compliance by suppliers or other business partners with Stora Enso’s standards on human and labour rights, ethical recruitment, and reasonable employee compensation may result in adverse consequences for people and Stora Enso’s reputation. Risk Short, medium, and long term Upstream, own operations Forced labour; Child labour 1 The Group has control over its value chain workers when the activities occur on the Group’s sites and premises. The impacts and incidents where Group has direct control are reported under ESRS S1. ===== SIDA 124 ===== Processes for engaging with value chain workers about impacts (S2-2) Stora Enso engages with value chain workers to gather perspectives on actual and potential impacts and to plan appropriate actions accordingly. This input can then be used to, for example, to define audit scopes or targeted initiatives that address those impacts. Engagement takes place on a consistent basis and at specific project or business process stages. It begins with risk mitigation measures, such as supplier screening and pre- qualification, and extends to defining remedies. Engagement takes various forms, including participation, consultation, or information sharing, and is carried out either directly with the workers in the value chain, contractors and other business partners, or suppliers’ representatives. The operational responsibility for ensuring that the engagement happens and that its results inform the Group’s approach, is with the Sourcing and Logistics Leadership team. Third-party audits are an important tool to engage with suppliers, track effectiveness of engagement, and focus on improvement measures where needed. See more details on third-party audits in ESRS S2-4. Other means of assessing the effectiveness of engagement include utilising feedback mechanisms through the Group’s established grievance channels or through specific project-defined feedback processes. The approach to gaining insight into the perspectives of particularly vulnerable groups is tailored to each specific case. Examples of these processes can be found in section ESRS S2-4 (actions 2-5). Engagement related to the safety of workers in the value chain working at the Group’s sites and premises is outlined in ESRS S1-2. Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for value chain workers to raise concerns (S2-3) Stora Enso continuously identifies and assesses potential and actual adverse impacts related to human rights and defines preventive and mitigating actions accordingly. The Group is committed to remedying situations where its activities have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts. Remediation measures and assessment of their effectiveness are determined on a case-by-case basis and according to the local context. The remediation process includes implementing corrective actions and ensuring knowledge-sharing to prevent similar cases from arising in the future. All internal and external stakeholders can anonymously report potential non-compliance cases via the Speak up channel. Suspected non- compliances can also be reported externally to national competent authorities and to certain EU-institutions. Equal protection against retaliation and liability is ensured in all cases. As outlined in the SCoC, suppliers are required to ensure that their employees, sub-suppliers, local communities, and other relevant stakeholders have access to grievance channels to anonymously voice their concerns about potential misconduct related to the requirements of the SCoC. The supplier must also have processes in place to address these concerns and remedy any confirmed case. The SCoC needs to be signed as part of the pre-qualification process and it contains information on Stora Enso’s grievance channels to ensure suppliers are aware of these channels. Potential non-compliance cases involving a Stora Enso employee or a contracted third-party are duly investigated by an independent internal team. Whenever a suspected Supplier Code of Conduct non-conformity is identified during supplier visits or audits, or brought to the Group’s attention through grievance channels, Stora Enso initiates an investigation led by internal subject matter experts. In cases of non-conformity, Stora Enso takes a collaborative approach by working with the supplier to implement a corrective action plan. In cases where the level of criticality is deemed high, or if a supplier demonstrates an unwillingness to improve its performance, the business relationship is terminated. Currently, Stora Enso lacks a systematic monitoring process to assess the effectiveness of the grievance channels through the involvement of value chain workers, and that workers in the value chain trust them as a means to express their concerns or needs. As outlined in the Code and Business Practice Policy, Stora Enso does not tolerate any retaliation against a person who in good faith reports misconduct. For more information on the grievance mechanisms and protection against retaliation, see ESRS G1-1 ‘Non-compliances and protection of whistleblowers’. Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels to raise concerns related to the safety of workers in the value chain working at the Group’s sites and premises is outlined in ESRS S1-3. Taking action on material impacts on value chain workers, and approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to value chain workers, and effectiveness of those actions (S2-4) To address the risk of non-compliance by suppliers and other business partners, as described in SBM-3 of this section, and to identify appropriate preventive actions, Stora Enso undertook the following actions during the reporting year. The Group plans to continue these actions in the short to mid-term future. The actions cover the Group’s own operations and the upstream value chain, with specific geographic locations specified for relevant activities. 1) In 2025, Stora Enso continued engagement with a tier 1 supplier in Brazil involved in kaolin processing and mining, following a desktop assessment conducted in 2024. The assessment highlighted concerns related to the accuracy and availability of public information, particularly regarding the supplier’s impact on local communities, land rights, and past environmental incidents. Stora Enso communicated its expectations and held regular follow-up calls to monitor progress on the corrective action plan, focusing on community engagement and operational improvements. An on-site sustainability audit was conducted with an external provider to evaluate the supplier’s operational sustainability performance. The audit identified some corrective actions related to labour rights, governance, and awareness of grievance mechanisms. 2) In 2025, Stora Enso continued efforts to address human rights risks in its Swedish forest operations, where silviculture contractors largely employ migrant workers. Building on a 2022 impact assessment, the company has strengthened contractor engagement, improved on-site labour assessments, and involved translators to support worker feedback. In 2025, to further safeguard human and labour rights, a worker voice survey was developed in collaboration with a third-party expert to reach more migrant workers and better understand their experiences and concerns. The survey is easily accessible and available in workers’ native languages. The survey results from 2025 did not reveal any new impact areas, but provided insights into known challenges faced by migrant workers, such as overtime, recruitment, and access to grievance mechanisms. These findings will inform the further development the Group’s existing initiatives. 3) In 2025, Stora Enso expanded its efforts to address human rights risks in forest operations by initiating audits of its associate company Tornator’s operations in Finland. The audits, which are conducted during 2025-2026, cover, for example, human rights topics, governance practices, and the o p e r a t i o n s o f c o n t r a c t o r s a n d s u b c o n t r a c t o r s . P o t e n t i a l n o n - c o n f o r m i t i e s are addressed promptly and collaboratively, and Stora Enso also reviews labour inspection reports issued by authorities. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 124 ===== SIDA 125 ===== 4) The Paper for Recycling (PfR) supply chain has previously been identified as having heightened sustainability risks, particularly in relation to social factors, as the work often is labour-intensive, involving health and safety risks, and low-skilled and migrant workers. In 2025, a structured approach was further developed to address these risks and challenges. During the year, three human rights-focused supplier visits were conducted at small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland by external consultants. These visits aimed to deepen understanding of potential risks and challenges, enabling informed decisions on capacity-building and mitigation measures, and strengthening future collaboration within the supply chain. 5) Following SMETA audits at some of the Group’s mills during 2024–2025, a key finding was the need to strengthen on-site due diligence processes for third-party employees to ensure that suppliers and contractors uphold employee rights. In response, a project was launched with an external consultant to develop a robust and coherent approach. Combining desktop research and stakeholder engagement, the project aims to create a blueprint for a due diligence process that can be consistently applied across other mills. Implementation is planned for year 2026. 6) In 2025, Stora Enso continued advancing a group-wide project to establish a risk-based, data-driven management system to support compliance with the upcoming EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and enable effective execution of the sustainability agenda. To date, the project has introduced policy updates, assessed future system and data requirements, and developed supply chain due diligence instruction, including category- and country-level sustainability risk management. Stepwise implementation is planned for 2026 and beyond. In 2025, there was one reported instance of a severe human rights incident related to a fatal accident at the Oulu site in Finland (see ESRS S1-14). To track effectiveness of the actions, Stora Enso has set a target on maintaining the proportion of total supplier spend covered by Supplier Code of Conduct, including all categories and regions, at a minimum of 95%. Third-party audits assist in tracking the effectiveness of risk mitigation by providing an independent assessment of the measures implemented. • Stora Enso focuses its audit efforts on suppliers in high-risk categories. During 2025, 38 (21) Supplier Code of Conduct audits were conducted, primarily in China, with the majority relating to contracted manufacturing and labour agencies. The audits revealed non- conformities, related in particular to working hours, basic worker’s rights, and emergency preparedness. Stora Enso formulated corrective action plans for all cases with necessary follow-up. • In 2025, 35 (33) sites had received a renewed Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certifications, with audits covering requirements on core labour rights. • 54 (43) Health, Safety, Environment, and Quality (HSEQ) audits were conducted mainly in Finland connected to contractors working on-site at Stora Enso’s production sites. Actions to prevent negative impacts related to the safety of workers in the value chain working at the Group’s sites and premises is outlined in ESRS S1-4. In case of material negative impacts, Stora Enso follows the processes described in ESRS S2-3 to provide and ensure remedy. Targets related to managing material negative impacts, advancing positive impacts, and managing material risks and opportunities (S2-5) To manage material risks related to value chain workers, Stora Enso has set a continuous target on maintaining the proportion of total supplier spend covered by Supplier Code of Conduct at a minimum of 95% each year. The target is in line with Stora Enso’s Supplier Code of Conduct. Target Scope Baseline year and value 2025 2024 Maintaining the proportion of total supplier spend covered by SCoC at a minimum of 95% All supplier categories and regions 2014: 78% 94% 95% In 2025, the coverage rate was slightly below target level. Accounting principles Stora Enso measures the proportion of total supplier spend covered by its Supplier Code of Conduct for all categories and regions. The Supplier Code of Conduct applies to all Stora Enso’s sourcing categories globally. Joint operations, intellectual property rights (IPR), leasing agreements, financial trading, government fees such as customs, and wood purchases from private individual forest owners are excluded from the requirement to accept the Supplier Code of Conduct. The aforementioned items are excluded also from the total supplier spend. Workers in the value chain, their legitimate representatives, or credible proxies were not involved in the target setting, tracking of the performance or identifying any lessons or improvements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 125 ===== SIDA 126 ===== ESRS S3 Affected communities S3 disclosure requirement related to ESRS 2 SBM-3 The double materiality assessment included all communities potentially impacted by the Group’s own operations or upstream value chain. ESRS S3 disclosure covers those affected communities that exceed the materiality threshold. Stora Enso’s impact on affected communities is connected to its strategy and business model, particularly through its business relationship with the 50% owned joint operation in Veracel, Brazil. The ongoing land- related disputes have resulted in negative impact on a specific group of affected communities. Some of the affected individuals are representatives of indigenous people. The disputes arise from illegal land invasions aimed at gaining access to land for subsistence farming. This has resulted in the occupation of company-owned land. According to legal requirements, the occupants are removed and farming activities are stopped. As an adaptation action, Veracel is committed to maintaining ongoing dialogue with landless movements and other affected individuals and actively supports land allocations through the Sustainable Settlement Initiative. These disputes may also contribute to, or result in, the identified reputational risk described in the table above. Despite compliance, preventive and precautionary measures, Stora Enso’s operations can impact the safety of people in local communities. This topic became material in 2025, when a fatal accident occurred at a harvesting site, see ESRS S3-4. The reputational risk is related to Stora Enso’s resource-intense business model, which depends on forests as a source of its primary raw material, and can lead to potential disputes over forest management practices, biodiversity, and land and water use. The most significant risks are observed in communities living around areas where Stora Enso or its joint operations have a physical presence, such as forests and production sites. The risk is considered in strategy execution through the implementation of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), which are mandatory for new production facilities or significant changes to existing facilities and plantations. As part of its dependency on raw materials, Stora Enso’s industrial operations require significant amounts of water to maintain production processes. Although the Group’s joint operations are not situated in regions experiencing severe droughts, it closely monitors the situation, as these communities are considered to be at a greater risk of harm. Policies related to affected communities (S3-1) The key policies guiding Stora Enso’s approach to affected communities are the Human Rights Policy and the Human Rights Guidelines. They outline the objectives for respecting human rights throughout the Group’s operations and engaging with affected and potentially affected stakeholders to ensure that its approach and focus on human rights are valid. The policies cover proactive risk identification, mitigating adverse impacts, and implementing remediation measures. They address the reputational risks related to water and land impacts, as well as the negative impacts of land use disputes in Brazil and safety incidents. The Human Rights Policy outlines the Group’s commitment to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The approach and practices for achieving these objectives is described in the Human Rights Guidelines, with special attention given to vulnerable groups, including indigenous people. Stora Enso strives to ensure that the management of land and natural resource rights related to its operations and supply chain respects stakeholder rights. These rights must be acquired through due diligence processes, which include avoiding the involuntary displacement of indigenous peoples from their traditional lands and natural resources. The Group’s management practices uphold the rights to health and an adequate standard of living for communities affected by its business activities. For further details on the policy and guidelines, see ESRS S1-1. Engagement is described in ESRS S3-2 and remediation in ESRS S3-3. Protecting and respecting the rights of local communities and indigenous peoples is an essential part of sustainable forest management practices. The Wood and Fiber Sourcing, and Land Management Policy, described in ESRS E4-2, addresses managing tree plantations as part of local land use and contributing to sustainable livelihoods. It forbids harvesting in violation of traditional rights of indigenous people or civil rights. Human rights and local communities aspects are also embedded in all three chapters of the Environmental Guidelines described in ESRS E1-3. The guidelines specifically outline the right to water and sanitation, and to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Stora Enso’s policy alignment with internationally recognised principles is disclosed in ESRS S1-1. In addition, Stora Enso is committed to international agreements on the rights of vulnerable groups, including but not limited to the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention (C169), Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), and the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families (CRMW). Stora Enso carries out chain-of-custody audits (FSC and PEFC), which require compliance with the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. For further information on monitoring compliance with international standards, see ESRS S1-1. Stora Enso is committed to remedying situations where its activities have caused or contributed to adverse human rights impacts. The established grievance mechanisms are accessible to all external stakeholders, including affected communities. The Group engages with potentially affected people and/or their representatives on a regular basis to identify any needs for updating its priorities, policies, and practices and consulting stakeholders when updating documents that affect them. By the end of 2025, Stora Enso had not become aware of any severe cases of human rights incidents related to non-respect of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, or OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that involve affected communities. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 126 Material impacts, risks and opportunities (ESRS 2 SBM-3) Description Impact, risk, or opportunity Time horizon Location in the value chain Related sub-topic or sub-sub topic Stora Enso’s joint operation in Veracel has ongoing land rights disputes in Brazil. Actual negative impact Short, medium, and long term Joint operations Land-related impacts Despite preventive and precautionary measures, Stora Enso’s operations can impact the safety of people in local communities. Actual negative impact Short term Upstream value chain Health and safety Risk of reputational harm related to disputes with local communities and NGOs over forest management practices, biodiversity, land, and water- use. The disputes may damage Stora Enso’s reputation and brand, which may result in a loss of investor and customer confidence leading to higher cost of capital and decreased revenues. Risk Short, medium, and long term Joint operations Water and sanitation; Land- related impacts ===== SIDA 127 ===== Processes for engaging with affected communities about impacts (S3-2) Stora Enso incorporates the perspectives of affected communities into its decision-making processes to gain insights into the local context, to identify potential impacts, and to collaboratively develop an appropriate approach. Before harvesting, Stora Enso consults communities near the harvesting operations to listen to their concerns and expectations, and to incorporate their feedback into the decision-making process. In Veracel, Brazil, and Montes del Plata, Uruguay, the community liaison teams collaborate with, consult, and inform all affected local communities before and after forestry operations. Human rights impacts are identified and addressed through Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) requirements for new or significant changes to facilities and plantations. This involves consulting and informing affected and potentially affected stakeholders to avoid adverse impacts on stakeholder rights. Air, water, and soil emissions are governed through regulatory permitting and monitoring as well as considered in the local environmental management system related to the industrial or forestry operations. Engagement takes place either directly with the communities or through community representatives, and occurs at different stages of the cooperation or project. It varies from consultation and participation to informing. Some of the engagement takes place regularly, while other interactions occur on an ongoing basis. The operational responsibility for the engagement and ensuring that the results inform the Group’s approach is with the EVP, Head of each business area and the CEOs of the joint operations in Brazil and Uruguay. Effectiveness of the engagement is primarily tracked by monitoring the cases reported through grievance channels. Indigenous peoples Community consultations, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), are a regular element in Stora Enso’s human rights due diligence and forestry operations, especially concerning land leasing and indigenous peoples’ rights. They are a central tool to mitigate disputes related to land use. The engagement with the indigenous peoples is designed together with the representatives of the affected stakeholders. Local communities are consulted during the planning and decision- making stages of new investments. FPIC allows indigenous peoples to give or withhold consent to a project or development through a process in which they participate as equals and make decisions about their lands and territories in accordance with their traditions and customs. The aim is to establish bottom-up participation and consultation prior to the beginning of a project or development that takes place on ancestral land or uses resources within the indigenous population’s territory. This includes consent on issues that might impact indigenous peoples’ rights, lands, territories, resources, traditional livelihoods, and cultural heritage. Stora Enso expects its joint operations to adhere to similar operational procedures. The Pataxó and Tupinambá communities represent almost 25,000 indigenous people in the Discovery Coast in Brazil. Engagement is carried out with communities impacted by forestry operations in the territory and is organised by a third-party consultancy. To ensure transparent and culturally sensitive dialogue, Veracel also engages with FUNAI (The National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples), the Brazilian governmental body that represents and protects the rights of Indigenous Peoples. Engagement activities are conducted prior to the initiation of harvesting operations and upon their completion to evaluate the process. This active dialogue aims to establish an effective mechanism to minimise negative impact on these traditional communities during the development of operational activities. The engagement with traditional fishing communities in conducted mainly through local associations at least annually to address any changes in quality of life or livelihoods of the affected communities and to preserve the traditional culture. Some areas of Veracel’s land have been illegally occupied since 2008. Veracel strives to maintain continuous dialogue with landless movements and supports land allocations through the Sustainable Settlement Initiative launched in 2012. The Sustainable Settlement Initiative is facilitated by the Government of the State of Bahía and is conducted in cooperation with the National Institute of Colonisation and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) and the representatives of six officially recognised landless people’s social movements. In 2018, Veracel signed a new agreement with the social landless movements to complement the earlier agreed Sustainable Settlement Initiative. Veracel does not plant in areas recognised as indigenous lands and understands the complexity and sensitivity involved in the demarcation of indigenous lands in southern Bahia. Although the indigenous Sámi people in Sweden are an important stakeholder group with established engagement practices in place, they are currently excluded from the ESRS reporting scope due to not meeting the materiality threshold. Processes to remediate negative impacts and channels for affected communities to raise concerns (S3-3) Remediation measures are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the specific local context. The Group’s approach to remediation involves implementing corrective actions and promoting knowledge-sharing to proactively prevent the recurrence of similar cases in the future. Processes to identify the action needed to address an actual or potential negative impact are guided by the human rights due diligence processes and tools. These include monitoring compliance with the company policies, requirements, and guidelines; ensuring that grievance mechanisms are operating effectively and are accessible to all relevant stakeholders; engaging and consulting with affected people or their representatives; and conducting project-specific impact assessments. The nature of the negative impact determines the range of possible remediation approaches, which can range from one-time settlements to long-term programmes with rigorous monitoring to ensure their effectiveness. To evaluate the most suitable course of action and response to an existing or potential impact, Stora Enso engages in consultations with the affected local community, and if necessary, seeks the assistance of a third-party remediator. In instances of actual negative impacts involving legal violations, the court determines the appropriate actions and remediation measures. In relation to indigenous peoples, the process of providing remedy involves taking into account their customs, traditions, rules, and local legislation. All external stakeholders can anonymously report potential non- compliance cases via the Speak up channel. The joint operations in Brazil and Uruguay have their own grievance mechanisms available in local language. Stora Enso does not have a specific process to assess that affected communities are aware of and trust these structures or processes as a way to raise their concerns or needs and have them addressed. This topic was, however, addressed as part of the human rights impact assessment conducted in 2025, see ESRS S3-4 below. For more information on the grievance mechanisms and protection against retaliation, see ESRS G1-1. Stora Enso does not have a specific process to assess the effectiveness of the remedy. It is assessed case-by-case, consisting of, for example, constructive dialogue with the community. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 127 ===== SIDA 128 ===== Taking action on material impacts on affected communities, and approaches to managing material risks and pursuing material opportunities related to affected communities, and effectiveness of those actions (S3 -4) Stora Enso has implemented a set of actions in co-operation with its joint operations to address the risk and identified negative impact related to affected communities. None of the listed actions entail plans that necessitate significant capital expenditure or operational expenditure. Whilst Stora Enso is active on community investments to advance positive impacts in local communities, the impacts were not considered to cross the materiality threshold. Initiatives planned with the primary purpose of delivering positive impacts for affected communities aim to address the negative impacts associated with land rights disputes. These initiatives (corresponding to ESRS S3-4 32 c) are described at the end of this chapter. In 2025, there was one reported severe safety incident involving affected communities. This concerned a fatal accident in which a member of the public was killed while a subcontractor was performing harvesting work in Sweden. Neither Stora Enso’s, nor the involved authorities’ investigations, indicates that the accident was the result of any safety failures from Stora Enso’s or the subcontractor’s side. Addressing reputational risk Human Rights Impact Assessment In 2025, Veracel conducted a new Human Rights Impact Assessment (HRIA) across its operations and neighbouring communities and reviewed its due diligence framework to ensure alignment with evolving standards and best practices. The assessment, led by a global consultancy, used a multi-source method including desk research, site visits, and interviews with over 50 community members, 200 workers, management, and NGOs. In response to the findings, Veracel will initiate corrective actions in 2026 to address identified issues. Stora Enso plays an active role in overseeing the HRIA process due to its 50% ownership share in the company. Stora Enso’s long-term action plan Stora Enso has implemented an ongoing, long-term action plan that encompasses its own operations and joint operations to address reputational risks associated with raw material dependency and potential disputes related to the use of natural resources and management of environmental impacts, such as deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land and water use. • Engagement and collaboration as described in ESRS S3-2 is one of the key actions to ensure proactive and transparent communication, address the concerns of local communities and other stakeholders, such as NGOs, and to define the most appropriate actions. • Community consultations, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) are an important tool for mitigating potential negative impacts, such as disputes on land-related use (see ESRS S3-2). • Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) are conducted for all new projects that could cause significant adverse impacts on local communities. Post-completion audits are carried out for all significant investments. The assessments inform on actions that may be required in project planning, construction, and operations to avoid possible negative impacts. • Stora Enso's tree plantations and land holdings are an integral part of local land use, and therefore sustainable land use practices are defined specifically for each location. Identifying areas where water usage might create a negative impact on local communities, is done by applying the WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas to assess water-related risks at production sites. The actions to monitor water-related impacts are described in sections ESRS E2 and ESRS E3. • Deforestation-free practices and biodiversity management are described in ESRS E4. This includes the FSC and PEFC certifications on sustainable forest management practices. • For details on the actions taken during 2025 regarding the social and environmental impacts of a tier 1 supplier involved in kaolin processing and mining in Brazil, see ESRS S2-4. To monitor the effectiveness of these actions, Stora Enso utilises certifications like FSC and PEFC, conducts post-completion audits as part of the ESIAs, tracks cases of non-compliance, and gathers stakeholder feedback. Managing land-related disputes in upstream value chain In Brazil, Stora Enso has 50% ownership of the joint operation Veracel. Since the Group does not have direct operational control of the unit, it is leveraging its financial ownership to address the negative impacts related to land acquisition as described in ESRS S3 SBM-3. The identification of appropriate actions is decided in collaboration with the local community. As a long-term action, Veracel continues to support the transition of families from the settlements to more permanent residencies on the same land, as the legal processes regarding their claim to the land are resolved over time. In total, since 2012, Veracel has voluntarily approved the transfer of approximately 20,000 hectares of land to benefit landless people as part of the sustainable resettlement. At the end of 2025, 98 (139) hectares, or 0.1% (0.1%), of productive land owned by Veracel remained occupied by movements not involved in the agreements. Veracel works through legal processes and community engagement to resolve remaining land claims. In case of material negative impacts, Stora Enso follows the processes described in ESRS S3-3 to provide and ensure remedy. In addition to the actions outlined above, proactive ongoing initiatives carried out in collaboration with local stakeholders aim to address the negative impacts related to land rights disputes. Stora Enso supports the resilience and livelihood of local communities through development programmes, monetary and in-kind donations, and employee volunteering. Since 2018, Veracel has supported Indigenous education through its Education is Life program, benefiting 34 villages — approximately 25,000 people — with school kits and infrastructure development The company also promotes cultural preservation by sponsoring traditional events and partnering with a local Indigenous organisation to establish a seedling nursery that strengthens food security and reforestation efforts. Support for 20 artisanal fishing associations includes training, certification, and recognition initiatives. To ensure safe coexistence between fishing and logistics operations, a maritime safety protocol was developed in collaboration with local cooperatives. Engagement with rural communities is further reinforced through annual events, gastronomic festivals, and targeted support. In Montes del Plata, Uruguay, the community engagement programme includes a range of educational, economic, and partnership initiatives that foster local involvement, support community activities and livelihood, and promote educational continuity. Targets related to managing material negative impacts, advancing positive impacts, and managing material risks and opportunities (S3-5) Although Stora Enso is actively monitoring its impacts on affected communities, it currently lacks a specific target for this topic with defined timelines and desired outcomes. The Group does not track the effectiveness of its policies and actions with defined level of ambition or indicators. However, the Group is exploring the implementation of a suitable target. In the meantime, Stora Enso advances the progress in achieving its policy objectives through actions described in ESRS S3-4. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 128 ===== SIDA 129 ===== Governance information In this section E S R S G 1 B u s i n e s s c o n d u c t ................................................................................... 129 ESRS G1 Business conduct Business conduct policies and corporate culture (G1-1) Policies The Stora Enso Code, the Group’s code of conduct, outlines the approach to ethical business practices and process for identifying, reporting, and investigating concerns about behaviour in contradiction with the Code. The policy addresses the management of identified positive impacts related to business conduct, grounded in the company purpose and values. It is designed to foster stakeholder trust and create a safe, inclusive environment for employees. Additionally, the policy outlines measures to mitigate risks associated with misconduct or non-compliance by implementing clear principles and processes, and by encouraging employees to report concerns. Stora Enso does not tolerate any retaliation against a person who in good faith reports misconduct. Any person found engaging in retaliation is subject to disciplinary action by Stora Enso, including termination of employment. The policy is described in more detail in ESRS S1-1. The Business Practice Policy, consistent with the United Nations Convention against Corruption, complements the Code and details Stora Enso’s approach to ethical business practices. It provides additional guidance to prevent risks in the areas such as anti-corruption and competition law, and outlines the procedures for reporting any violations of these practices. The policy shall be followed by all Stora Enso employees and the Group’s business partners. The EVP Legal, General Counsel, is accountable for ensuring the implementation of the policy. Process for monitoring entails the tailored training described in ESRS G1-3. The Supplier Code of Conduct (SCoC) extends the principles of the Stora Enso Code to suppliers, setting forth specific requirements they must follow. Through the SCoC, Stora Enso manages the risk and potential negative impact associated with corruption and bribery. This includes mandating responsible business practices and ensuring full compliance with all applicable permits, laws, and regulations. Furthermore, the SCoC requires that suppliers ensure their own suppliers and sub-suppliers adhere to the stipulations of this SCoC or their own equivalent codes of conduct. For further details on the SCoC, see ESRS E1-2. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 129 Material impacts, risks and opportunities (ESRS 2 SBM-3) Description Impact, risk or opportunity Time horizon Location in the value chain Related sub-topic or sub-sub topic Stora Enso operates globally, including in high-risk markets, and upholds stringent business standards through a robust compliance programme and an ethical corporate culture guided by its values of ‘Lead’ and ‘Do what’s right’. The Group empowers employees to act with integrity, supports safe whistle-blowing, and fosters transparency to positively impact both its workforce and business partners. Actual positive impact Short, medium, and long term Own operations, upstream and downstream value chain Corporate culture; Protection of whistleblowers The risks related to business conduct encompass fraud, anti-trust violations, corruption, conflict of interest, and other forms of misconduct, all of which are areas covered by the Stora Enso Code and Business Practice Policy. In the event of breaches of these laws, regulations, or policies, Stora Enso may incur significant compliance and remediation costs. These costs may encompass regulatory fines and penalties, legal expense, and potential damages to business relations, finances, or reputation. Risk Short, medium, and long term Own operations, upstream and downstream value chain Prevention and detection including training; Corporate culture Despite strict rules, processes, and policies, suspicions and incidents of non-compliance may still occur. The risks may lead to negative impacts on people and the environment, or financial consequences for the Group. Risk Short, medium, and long term Own operations, upstream and downstream value chain Incidents; Corporate culture ===== SIDA 130 ===== Trade sanction controls Stora Enso regularly conducts risk assessments to maintain an up-to-date understanding of its specific risk exposure concerning compliance with trade sanctions and export control rules. As outlined in the Business Practice Policy, all direct or indirect business activities connected to Tier 1 Countries are prohibited, unless approval is obtained from the CEO or CFO. No such approval was given in 2025. As of 31 December 2025, the Tier 1 sanction countries included: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Russia, Non- government controlled areas in Ukraine, Belarus, Libya, Myanmar, Sudan, Venezuela and Yemen. Non-compliances and protection of whistleblowers All employees and stakeholders are actively encouraged to report any instances of suspected misconduct they identify. Stora Enso is subject to legal requirements under the national law transpose the EU Whistleblowing Directive. The measures to protect whistleblowers, their rights, privacy, and confidentiality include secure and anonymous reporting channels and policies against non-retaliation. Reporting is facilitated via any of the Group’s grievance channels, be it personal contact, e-mail, phone, or anonymously via the ‘Speak Up’ reporting channel. This service, which covers all of Stora Enso’s units, is available 24/7 and allows reports to be submitted anonymously. Additionally, the service is available to external stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and investors. Employees can raise concerns also with their manager, People & Culture organisation, or the Ethics and Compliance Team. Managers and HR representatives have the responsibility to forward serious complaints to the Ethics and Compliance team for further investigation and actions. Potential non-compliance cases involving a Stora Enso employee or a contracted third-party are duly, promptly, and objectively investigated by a dedicated team that is independent from the chain of management involved in the matter. The investigation shall, if possible, be completed In a high-risk case within thirty calendar days from the initial report, and in other cases, within sixty calendar days. All cases, upon completion, are reported to both the Disciplinary Committee and the Board of Directors’ Sustainability and Ethics Committee. In cases where a remediation plan is required, it is implemented together with the relevant management representatives. As of September 2025, the ESG Regulatory team overseeing value chain sustainability is responsible for investigating and managing non-compliances related to the Supplier Code of Conduct. To support all parties involved in evaluating a misconduct investigation and determining the appropriate disciplinary action, the Ethics and Compliance team maintains a Disciplinary Action Standard and cascades it to the relevant internal organisations. This standard establishes the ethical foundations for any disciplinary action taken in response to misconduct investigated within Stora Enso. It serves as a guide for the Ethics and Compliance team, as well as other decision-makers such as those in People & Culture organisation, business organisations, and union representatives, when evaluating a misconduct investigation and determining the appropriate disciplinary action. The functions identified as being most at risk in terms of corruption and bribery include senior leadership, sales, sourcing, and corporate affairs. For training provided to these functions, see ESRS G1-3. Ethical corporate culture Stora Enso’s corporate culture is built on a foundation of openness and honesty, fostering a value-driven organisation that upholds the company’s core values of ‘Lead’ and ‘Do What’s Right’. To further develop and promote an ethical corporate culture, Stora Enso’s ethics & compliance programme includes, for example, training sessions, as well as communication and awareness-raising activities. All initiatives are reported to the Board's Sustainability and Ethics Committee four times a year. Training Stora Enso does not have a specific policy on training related to business conduct. However, all employees are required to complete the mandatory onboarding training on the Stora Enso Code. Starting in 2025, employees will be required to renew their Code training every three years. In addition, e-learning courses and customised training sessions cover various topics like onboarding business partners, gifts and hospitality, and joint purchasing agreements. See more on specific trainings in ESRS G1-3. Ethics and Compliance index Stora Enso tracks the advancement of positive impacts on its corporate culture using an Ethics and Compliance index. The index is calculated as an average of five ethics and compliance-related questions in the annual employee survey. The questions assess whether employees feel safe to speak up, are inspired by Stora Enso’s purpose and values, adhere to the Stora Enso Code and other policies in their daily work, believe their manager sets a good example, and see their team operating in accordance with general legislation and Stora Enso’s practices. In 2025, the result was 8.9 (8.8), with the maximum rating being 10. Awareness raising and Ethics Ambassador Network Stora Enso employs diverse communication channels to foster an ethical corporate culture. During the year, these included a webinar on psychological safety, ethics workshops, and articles shared in internal channels, among others. The Ethics Ambassador Network consists of around 380 voluntary employees from across the organisation, with 150 new ambassadors joining in 2025. Ambassadors receive training on internal policies, rules, and ethical culture. They actively promote ethics, and company purpose and values in their workplaces. Ambassadors play a critical role in fostering ethical dialogue, cascading ethics information, and aiding the Ethics and Compliance team in understanding the local corporate culture for continuous improvement of communication efforts. Prevention and detection of corruption and bribery (G1-3) Both the Stora Enso Code and Business Practice Policy require zero- tolerance towards any form of corruption. To help prevent incidents of corruption or bribery, sales and sourcing teams are offered tailored training on competition law and anti-corruption, including training on trade associations, joint purchasing agreements, gifts and hospitality, and the onboarding of critical business partners. Details on specific trainings are outlined in the table below. Controls are in place for day-to-day operations, mandating that employees, for example, seek approval from Legal and their line managers prior to offering any hospitalities involving public officials. High-risk roles, such as senior leadership, sales, sourcing, and corporate affairs, undergo in-depth compliance training. They also complete an annual refresher training on business ethics and confirm compliance with company policies. Top management employees, including the Group Leadership Team, have specific ethics and compliance onboarding training to enhance ethical leadership. New Board members regularly receive onboarding introductions, which cover topics related to the Stora Enso Code, Business Practice Policy, and the Group’s ethics and compliance programme, including anti-corruption and various other business ethics topics. In addition to the trainings provided for at-risk functions, Stora Enso’s all employees must complete the Stora Enso Code training, as described in ESRS G1-1. The Code training is designed to build understanding of business conduct, including the detection of corruption and bribery. The policies are implemented through the aforementioned trainings and are also made accessible on the company’s website and intranet. The business units employ an Ethics and Compliance Self-Assessment Tool (T.E.S.T) to gain a clearer overview of the progress their units are achieving in policy implementation, the compliance measures implemented, and any potential gaps and risks in compliance. Based on T.E.S.T survey results, Stora Enso has identified Competition Law and Communication as key areas for improvement and, in 2025, launched a company-wide gap- closing initiative. This included a management information call, a Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 130 ===== SIDA 131 ===== customised self-service slide deck for managers, competition law training for sales, sourcing, and other teams, and individual follow-ups by compliance counsels with managers of units showing gaps. The Supplier Code of Conduct is a legally binding document for all suppliers, outlining the common set of minimum standards, including matters related to corruption and bribery. All suppliers are required to commit to the SCoC as part of the pre-qualification process. Third parties who act on Stora Enso’s behalf are subject to additional Know Your Counterparty (KYC) screening before onboarding. Corruption risks are evaluated via internal and external questionnaires, watch list and adverse media screening as well as interviews and more in-depth due diligence when necessary. Mitigation actions are always put in place when such a party is engaged. In 2025, the screening was conducted for 65 (83) critical business partners. The reporting channels described in ‘Non-compliances and protection of whistleblowers’ also serve to detect allegations or incidents of corruption or bribery. The process and responsibilities for investigating, addressing, and reporting incidents follow the same principles as outlined in chapter ‘Non- compliances and protection of whistleblowers’. Training on anti-corruption and bribery Accounting principles The data regarding training coverage of anti-corruption and anti-bribery programmes is gathered via Stora Enso’s learning management system, with the exception of some smaller units that are manually added. There are minor deviations due to different data sources. The figures reflect the status as of December 31, 2025, for Stora Enso’s active employees. The figures are reported without joint operations due to the lack of full authority over contractual arrangements between the workers and Stora Enso. Due to organisational restructuring, the annual sign-off of training for at-risk functions was postponed until early 2026. As a result, this is reported as ‘to start in Q1/2026’. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery training programmes 2025 At-risk functions All employees at own workforce Critical employees Critical employees Office workers Production workers In-depth compliance training (COMPLY) Annual sign- off Stora Enso Code Stora Enso Code intro Training coverage Total 3,550 To start in Q1/2026 7,100 10,450 Total receiving training 3,500 To start in Q1/2026 7,000 9,900 Total receiving training, % 99% To start in Q1/2026 99% 95% Delivery method and duration Computer-based training 2 hours 20 minutes 40 minutes 15 minutes Frequency How often training is required Once Annually Every three years Once Topics covered Definition of corruption x x x x Business conduct and corporate culture policies x x x x Procedures on suspicion/ detection x x x x Stora Enso values x x x x Practical examples x x x x Applicable to Group Leadership Team x x x Anti-corruption and anti-bribery training programmes 2024 At-risk functions All employees at own workforce Critical employees Critical employees Office workers Production workers In-depth compliance training (COMPLY) Annual sign- off Stora Enso Code Stora Enso Code intro Training coverage Total 3,550 3,000 7,600 10,150 Total receiving training 3,450 3,000 7,350 9,250 Total receiving training, % 97% 100% 97% 91% Delivery method and duration Computer-based training 2 hours 20 minutes 40 minutes 15 minutes Frequency How often training is required Once Annually Once Once Topics covered Definition of corruption x x x x Business conduct and corporate culture policies x x x x Procedures on suspicion/ detection x x x x Stora Enso values x x x x Practical examples x x x x Applicable to Group Leadership Team x x x Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 131 ===== SIDA 132 ===== Incidents of corruption or bribery (G1-4) As described in ESRS G1-3, both the Stora Enso Code and Business Practice Policy require zero-tolerance towards any form of corruption. Despite strict policies, incidents still occur. All employees and stakeholders are encouraged to report any instances of suspected misconduct they identify. Potential non-compliance cases involving a Stora Enso employee or a contracted third-party are duly, promptly, and objectively investigated by a dedicated team independent from the chain of management involved in the matter. The actions to address proven cases of corruption or bribery can include own worker dismissal or discipline. Further actions to address breaches in procedures and standards of anti- corruption and anti-bribery are described in ESRS G1-1 and ESRS G1-3. Accounting principles The reporting on proven corruption, bribery, conflict of interest, and similar non-compliance cases covers the cases closed during the year, and therefore the recording of such an incident may have occurred during the current or previous financial years. In 2025, Stora Enso had no convictions of anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, and paid no fines related to such incidents. Metrics related to confirmed incidents 2025 2024 Number of confirmed incidents of corruption or bribery 1 6 Number of confirmed incidents in which own workers were dismissed or disciplined for corruption or bribery- related incidents 0 5 Entity-specific disclosure on potential and proven non-compliances Additionally, Stora Enso has prepared an entity-specific disclosure on the total number of reported potential non-compliance cases and number of identified proven cases leading to disciplinary action and/or legal action. Potential non-compliance cases cover all compliance violations, such as: competition law, corruption, fraud, discrimination, safety, privacy, and other breaches of rules, guidelines and policies. Accounting principles The number of potential non-compliance cases include the figures reported in ESRS S1-17 and ESRS G1-4 (Incidents of corruption and bribery). Entity-specific metrics related to non- compliances 2025 2024 Total number of reported potential non- compliance cases 158 111 Number of identified proven cases leading to disciplinary action and/or legal action 12 19 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A s s u r e d 132 ===== SIDA 133 ===== Financial Statements Consolidated financial statements .................................. 134 Consolidated income statement ................................... 134 Consolidated statement of comprehensive income ..................................................................................... 134 Consolidated statement of financial position ........... 135 Consolidated cash flow statement ............................... 136 Statement of changes in equity ..................................... 138 Notes to the consolidated financial statements ......... 139 1 Basis for reporting ................................................................... 139 1.1 Accounting principles .................................................... 139 1.2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements . 141 2 Financial performance ......................................................... 142 2.1 Segment information ................................................... 142 2.2 Materials and services ................................................. 145 2.3 Other operating income and expenses ................ 145 2.4 Depreciation, amortisation and impairments .... 147 2.5 Net financial items ....................................................... 148 2.6 Income taxes ................................................................. 148 2.7 Earnings per share ........................................................ 150 3 Employee remuneration ...................................................... 151 3.1 Personnel expenses ...................................................... 151 3.2 Board and executive remuneration ........................ 151 3.3 Post-employment benefit obligations .................. 153 3.4 Employee variable compensation and equity incentive schemes ............................................................. 155 4 Operating capital................................................................... 157 4.1 Intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets .............................. 157 4.2 Forest assets .................................................................. 159 4.3 Associates ....................................................................... 163 4.4 Equity instruments ....................................................... 165 4.5 Emission rights and other non-current assets .... 165 4.6 Inventories ...................................................................... 166 4.7 Operative receivables ................................................. 166 4.8 Operative liabilities ...................................................... 167 4.9 Provisions ........................................................................ 167 5 Capital structure and financing ....................................... 169 5.1 Financial risk management ........................................ 169 5.2 Fair values ........................................................................ 174 5.3 Interest-bearing assets and liabilities ................... 176 5.4 Derivatives ....................................................................... 179 5.5 Shareholders' equity ..................................................... 183 5.6 Cumulative translation adjustment and equity hedging ................................................................................... 183 5.7 Non-controlling interests ........................................... 184 6 Group structure ...................................................................... 186 6.1 Acquisitions, disposals and assets held for sale . 186 6.2 Group companies ......................................................... 188 6.3 Related party transactions ........................................ 191 7 Other ........................................................................................... 192 7.1 Commitments and contingencies ............................ 192 7.2 Events after the reporting period ............................ 192 Parent company Stora Enso Oyj financial statements .............................................................. 193 Notes to the parent company financial statements . 195 Signatures for the financial statements ......................... 206 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 133 ===== SIDA 134 ===== Consolidated financial statements Consolidated income statement Year ended 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Sales 2.1 9,326 9,049 Other operating income 2.3 389 325 Materials and services1 2.2 -7,020 -6,738 Personnel expenses 3.1 -1,232 -1,228 Other operating expenses 2.3 -503 -543 Share of results of associated companies 4.3 89 52 Change in net value of biological assets 4.2 401 421 Depreciation, amortisation and impairments 2.4 -507 -1,246 Operating result 2.1 942 93 Financial income 2.5 104 118 Financial expenses 2.5 -263 -329 Result before Tax 783 -118 Income tax 2.6 -97 -65 Net result for the year 686 -183 Attributable to Owners of the Parent 695 -136 Non-controlling Interests 5.7 -9 -48 Net result for the year 686 -183 Earnings per share Basic earnings per share, EUR 2.7 0.88 -0.17 Diluted earnings per share, EUR 2.7 0.88 -0.17 1 The following three income statement lines: Materials and services, Change in inventories of finished good and WIP and Freight and sales commissions, were combined into this single row in Q4 2025. Consolidated statement of comprehensive income Year ended 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Net result for the year 686 -183 Other Comprehensive Income (OCI) Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss Equity instruments at fair value through OCI 4.4 297 -202 Actuarial gains and losses on defined benefit plans 3.3 36 22 Revaluation of forest land 4.2 -385 -281 Share of OCI of associated companies 4.3 -28 5 Income tax relating to items that will not be reclassified 2.6 73 53 -8 -403 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss Cumulative translation adjustment (CTA) 5.6 124 -89 Net investment hedges and loans 5.6 -21 4 Cash flow hedges and cost of hedging 5.4 84 -81 Share of OCI of non-controlling interests (NCI) 5.7 12 -5 Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified 2.6 -20 19 179 -152 Total comprehensive income 857 -738 Attributable to Owners of the Parent 854 -685 Non-controlling interests 5.7 3 -53 Total comprehensive income 857 -738 The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 134 ===== SIDA 135 ===== Consolidated statement of financial position Assets Goodwill O 4.1 171 162 Other intangible assets O 4.1 250 277 Property, plant and equipment O 4.1 5,227 5,006 Right-of-use assets O 4.1 422 499 6,069 5,945 Forest assets O 4.2 6,641 7,227 Biological assets O 4.2 5,167 5,243 Forest land O 4.2 1,473 1,983 Emission rights O 4.5 45 73 Investments in associated companies O 4.3 1,108 954 Listed securities I 4.4 0 11 Unlisted securities O 4.4 912 602 Non-current interest-bearing receivables I 5.3 14 14 Deferred tax assets T 2.6 222 205 Other non-current assets O 4.5 69 53 Non-current assets 15,081 15,082 Inventories O 4.6 1,802 1,672 Tax receivables T 29 31 Operative receivables O 4.7 869 969 Interest-bearing receivables I 5.3 67 47 Cash and cash equivalents I 1,212 1,999 Current assets 3,978 4,719 Total assets 19,059 19,802 As at 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Equity and liabilities Share capital 5.5 1,342 1,342 Share premium 77 77 Invested non-restricted equity fund 633 633 Fair value reserve 1,708 1,808 Cumulative translation adjustment 5.6 -357 -457 Retained earnings 7,393 6,735 Equity attributable to owners of the Parent 10,796 10,139 Non-controlling Interests 5.7 -147 -150 Total equity 10,649 9,989 Post-employment benefit obligations O 3.3 153 181 Provisions O 4.9 79 81 Deferred tax liabilities T 2.6 1,314 1,416 Non-current interest-bearing liabilities I 5.3 3,557 3,894 Non-current operative liabilities O 4.8 30 10 Non-current liabilities 5,133 5,582 Current portion of non-current debt I 5.3 253 1,090 Interest-bearing liabilities I 5.3 659 788 Bank overdrafts I 5.3 5 7 Provisions O 4.9 50 37 Operative liabilities O 4.8 2,293 2,296 Tax liabilities T 2.6 17 13 Current liabilities 3,277 4,231 Total liabilities 8,410 9,813 Total equity and liabilities 19,059 19,802 As at 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Items designated “O” comprise Operating Capital, items designated “I” comprise Interest-bearing Net Liabilities, items designated “T” comprise Net Tax Liabilities. The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 135 ===== SIDA 136 ===== Consolidated cash flow statement Cash flow from operating activities Operating result1 942 93 Adjustments and reversal of non-cash items: Depreciation, amortisation and impairments 2.4 507 1,246 Change in value of biological assets 4.2 -401 -421 Change in fair value of share awards 2 -2 Share of results of associated companies 4.3 -89 -52 CTA and profits and losses on sale of fixed assets and investments2 2.3 -155 -3 Other adjustments 12 15 Dividends received from associated companies 4.3 29 29 Change in net working capital, net of businesses acquired or sold 51 283 Cash flow from operations 897 1,187 Interest received 33 77 Interest paid -192 -197 Other financial items, net -45 -43 Income taxes paid -48 -73 Net cash provided by operating activities 645 952 Cash flow from investing activities Acquisition of subsidiary shares and business operations, net of acquired cash 6.1 -17 -75 Acquisition of shares in associated companies 4.3 0 -1 Acquisition of listed and unlisted securities 4.4 -1 0 Cash flow on disposal of subsidiary shares and business operations, net of disposed cash 6.1 619 8 Cash flow on disposal of shares in associated companies 4.3 1 0 Cash flow on disposal of unlisted securities 4.4 9 3 Cash flow on disposal of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment 4.1 17 23 Capital expenditure 2.1, 4.1 -679 -1,010 Investment in biological assets 4.2 -96 -103 Proceeds from/payment of non-current receivables, net 206 22 Net cash used in investing activities 60 -1,133 Year ended 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Cash flow from financing activities Proceeds from issue of new long-term debt 5.3 489 19 Repayment of long-term debt and lease liabilities 5.3 -1,747 -225 Change in short-term interest-bearing liabilities 5.3 -19 54 Dividends paid -209 -146 Purchase of own shares -2 -3 Net cash used in financing activities -1,487 -301 Net change in cash and cash equivalents -783 -483 Translation adjustment -4 11 Net cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 1,993 2,464 Net cash and cash equivalents at year end 1,206 1,993 Cash and cash equivalents at year end3 1,212 1,999 Bank overdrafts at year end -5 -7 Net cash and cash equivalents at year end 1,206 1,993 Year ended 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 1 Previously, the starting point for cash flow was net result. 2 CTA = Cumulative Translation Adjustment. 3 Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash-in-hand, deposits held at call with banks and other liquid investments with original maturity of less than three months. Bank overdrafts are included in current liabilities. The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 136 ===== SIDA 137 ===== Consolidated cash flow statement Supplemental cash flow information Year ended 31 December EUR million Note 2025 2024 Change in net working capital consists of: Change in inventories -53 -136 Change in interest-free receivables: Current 117 259 Non-current -15 2 Change in interest-free liabilities: Current 22 168 Non-current -21 -10 Change in net working capital, net of businesses acquired or sold 51 283 Cash and cash equivalents consist of: Cash on hand and at banks 693 912 Cash equivalents 519 1,088 Cash and cash equivalents 1,212 1,999 Non-cash investing activities Total capital expenditure excluding right-of-use assets 633 933 Amounts paid -679 -1,010 Non-cash part of additions to intangible assets and property, plant and equipment -46 -77 Cash flow on acquisitions of subsidiaries and business operations Purchase consideration on acquisitions, cash part 6.1 -17 -77 Cash and cash equivalents in acquired companies, net of bank overdraft 6.1 0 2 Net cash flow on acquisition -17 -75 Cash flow on disposals of subsidiaries and business operations Cash part of the consideration 6.1 624 13 Cash and cash equivalents in divested companies 6.1 -5 -5 Net cash flow from disposal 619 8 The accompanying Notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 137 ===== SIDA 138 ===== Statement of changes in equity Fair value reserve EUR million Share capital Share premium and reserve fund Invested non- restricted equity fund Treasury shares Equity instruments through OCI Cash flow hedges Revaluation reserve OCI of associated companies CTA and net investment hedges and loans Retained earnings Attributable to owners of the parent Non- controlling interests Total Balance at 1 January 2024 1,342 77 633 — 653 38 1,540 63 -375 7,015 10,985 -97 10,889 Net result for the year — — — — — — — — — -136 -136 -48 -183 OCI before tax — — — — -202 -81 -281 5 -85 22 -621 -5 -626 Income tax relating to OCI — — — — — 16 58 — 3 -4 72 — 72 Total Comprehensive Income — — — — -203 -65 -223 5 -82 -118 -685 -53 -738 Dividend — — — — — — — — — -158 -158 — -158 Acquisitions and disposals — — — — — — — — — — — — — Purchase of treasury shares — — — -3 — — — — — — -3 — -3 Share-based payments — — — 3 — — — — — -4 -1 — -1 Balance at 31 December 2024 1,342 77 633 — 450 -27 1,317 68 -457 6,735 10,139 -150 9,989 Net result for the year — — — — — — — — — 695 695 -9 686 OCI before tax — — — — 297 84 -385 -28 103 36 106 12 118 Income tax relating to OCI — — — — 2 -17 79 — -3 -8 53 — 53 Total Comprehensive Income — — — — 298 67 -307 -28 99 724 854 3 857 Reclassifications on disposals — — — — -4 — -126 — — 130 — — — Dividend — — — — — — — — — -197 -197 — -197 Acquisitions and disposals — — — — — — — — — — — — — Purchase of treasury shares — — — -2 — — — — — — -2 — -2 Share-based payments — — — 2 — — — — — — 2 — 2 Balance at 31 December 2025 1,342 77 633 — 744 40 884 40 -357 7,393 10,796 -147 10,649 CTA = Cumulative Translation Adjustment, NCI = Non-controlling Interests, OCI = Other Comprehensive Income Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 138 ===== SIDA 139 ===== Notes to the consolidated financial statements 1 Basis for reporting 1.1 Accounting principles Principal activities Stora Enso Oyj (“the Company”) is a Finnish public limited liability company organised under the laws of the Republic of Finland and with its registered address at Katajanokanlaituri 4, 00160 Helsinki. Its shares are currently listed on Nasdaq Helsinki and Stockholm. The operations of Stora Enso Oyj and its subsidiaries (together “Stora Enso” or “the Group”) are organised into the following reportable segments: Packaging Materials, Packaging Solutions, Biomaterials, Wood Products, Forest and segment Other. The Group’s main market is Europe. The Financial Statements were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 3 February 2026. According to the Finnish Limited Liability Companies Act, the General Meeting of shareholders is entitled to decide on the adoption of the financial statements. Basis of preparation The consolidated financial statements of Stora Enso have been prepared in accordance with IFRS Accounting Standards as adopted by the European Union. The consolidated financial statements of Stora Enso have been prepared according to the historical cost convention, except as disclosed in the accounting policies. The detailed accounting principles are explained in the related notes with a few exceptions where the accounting principles are presented in this note. The consolidated financial statements are presented in euros, which is the parent company’s functional currency. All figures in these consolidated financial statements have been rounded to the nearest million, unless otherwise stated. Therefore, figures in this report may not add up precisely to the totals presented and may vary from previously published financial information. New and amended standards and interpretations adopted in 2025 The Group has applied the following new and amended standards and interpretations which are effective from 1 January 2025: • Amendments to IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates: Lack of Exchangeability. The amendment contains guidance to specify when a currency is exchangeable and how to determine the exchange rate when it is not. The effective date was 1 January 2025. The amendment did not have a significant impact on the Group. • Other standards, standard amendments and interpretations did not have any significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures. Consolidation principles The consolidated financial statements include the parent company, Stora Enso Oyj, and all companies controlled by the Group. Control is defined as when the Group: • has power over the investee, • is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee; and • has the ability to use its power to affect its returns. If facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to the three elements of control listed above the Group reassess whether or not it controls an investee. The subsidiaries and joint operations are listed in note 6.2 Group companies. All intercompany transactions, receivables, liabilities and unrealised profits, as well as intragroup profit distributions, are eliminated. Accounting policies for subsidiaries, joint arrangements and associated companies are adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by Stora Enso. Associated companies over which Stora Enso exercises significant influence are accounted for by using the equity method. These companies are investments in which the Group has significant influence, but which it does not control. Significant influence means the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the company without control or joint control over those policies. More detailed information is presented in note 4.3 Associates. Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of the joint arrangement, which exists only when decisions on relevant activities require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. Joint operations are joint arrangements, whereby the partners who have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the assets, and obligations for the liabilities, relating to the arrangement. Joint ventures are joint arrangements, whereby the partners who have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the joint arrangement. The Group has two joint operations, Veracel and Montes del Plata. In both companies, Stora Enso’s ownership is 50%. The arrangements are based on shareholders’ agreements, which give Stora Enso rights to a share of returns and make the Group indirectly liable for the liabilities, as its ability to pay for the pulp is used to finance debts. In relation to its interest in joint operations, the Group recognises its share of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses and cash flows of the joint operation. The share is determined based on rights to the assets and obligations for the liabilities of each joint operator. • Veracel is a jointly owned company of Stora Enso and Suzano located in Brazil. The pulp mill produces bleached eucalyptus hard wood pulp and both owners are entitled to half of the mill’s output. The eucalyptus is sourced mostly from the company’s own forest plantations. The mill commenced production in 2005. • Montes del Plata is a jointly owned company of Stora Enso and Arauco located in Uruguay. The pulp mill produces bleached eucalyptus hard wood pulp and Stora Enso’s part is sold entirely as market pulp. The eucalyptus is sourced mostly from the company’s own forest plantations. The mill commenced production in 2014. Revenue recognition Sales comprise products, raw materials and services less indirect sales tax and discounts, and are adjusted for cash flow hedging result on sales in foreign currencies. Sales are recognised after Stora Enso has transferred the control of goods and services to a customer and the Group retains neither a continuing right to dispose of the goods, nor effective control of those goods; usually, this means that sales are recorded upon the delivery of goods to customers in accordance with the agreed terms of delivery. Stora Enso’s terms of delivery are based on Incoterms 2020, which are the official rules for the interpretation of trade terms as issued by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). The main categories of the terms covering Group sales are: Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 139 ===== SIDA 140 ===== • “D” terms, under which the group is obliged to deliver the goods to the buyer at the agreed place in the manner specified in the chosen rule, in which case the point of sale is the moment of delivery to the buyer. • “C” terms, whereby the Group arranges and pays for the external carriage and certain other costs, though the Group ceases to be responsible for the goods once they have been handed over to the carrier in accordance with the relevant term. The point of sale is thus the handing over of the goods to the carrier contracted by the seller for the carriage to the agreed destination. • “F” terms, being where the buyer arranges and pays for the carriage, thus the point of sale is the handing over of the goods to the carrier contracted by the buyer at the agreed point. Where local rules may result in invoices being raised in advance of the above, the effect of this revenue advancement is quantified, and an adjustment is made accordingly. Stora Enso’s sales mainly comprise sales of products and the revenue is typically recognised at a point in time when Stora Enso transfers control of these products to a customer. Revenues from services are recognised over time once the service has been performed. More detailed information regarding Stora Enso’s principal activities and disaggregation of revenue is presented in note 2.1 Segment information. Foreign currency transactions Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange prevailing at the transaction date, but at the end of the month foreign- currency-denominated receivables and liabilities are translated using the month-end exchange rate. Foreign exchange differences for operating items are presented in the appropriate income statement line in the operating result, and, for financial assets and liabilities, they are presented in the financial items in the consolidated income statement, except when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges, net investment hedges or net investment loans. Translation differences on non-monetary financial assets, such as equities classified at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI), are included in equity. Foreign currency translations The income statements of Group companies with functional and presentational currencies other than the euro are translated into the Group reporting currency using the average exchange rates of the year, whereas the statements of the financial position of these companies are translated using the exchange rates at the reporting date. The Group is exposed to currency risks arising from exchange rate fluctuations on the value of its net investment in non-euro foreign entities. Exchange differences arising from the retranslation of net investments in foreign entities that are non-euro foreign subsidiaries, joint operations or associated companies and of financial instruments that are designated to hedge such investments, are recorded directly in equity as cumulative translation adjustment (CTA). See note 5.6 Cumulative translation adjustment and equity hedging for more details. Future standard changes endorsed by the EU but not yet effective in 2025 • Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 - the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments. The amendments will address diversity in accounting practice by making the requirements more understandable and consistent. These include clarifying the classification of financial assets with environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) and similar features (ESG-linked features in loans could affect whether the loans are measured at amortised cost or fair value), and settlement of liabilities through electronic payment systems, where the amendments clarify the date on which a financial asset or financial liability is derecognised. With these amendments, the IASB has also introduced additional disclosure requirements to enhance transparency regarding investments in equity instruments designated at fair value through other comprehensive income and financial instruments with contingent features, for example features tied to ESG-linked targets. The effective date is 1 January 2026. The amendments are not expected to have significant impact on the Group. • Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 - Contracts Referencing Nature- dependent Electricity. The own-use requirements in IFRS 9 are amended to include the factors an entity is required to consider for contracts to buy and take delivery of renewable electricity for which the source of production of the electricity is nature-dependent. Hedge accounting requirements are amended to permit an entity using a contract for nature-dependent renewable electricity with specified characteristics as a hedging instrument. Amendments also introduce disclosure requirements about contracts for nature-dependent electricity with specified characteristics. The effective date is 1 January 2026. The Group is evaluating the impact of the standard amendments and amendment is not expected to have any significant impact on Stora Enso. • No other published standards, standard amendments or interpretations which would be expected to have any significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures. Future standard changes not yet effective and not yet endorsed by the EU in 2025 • IFRS 18 Presentation and Disclosure in Financial Statements. The objective of the new IFRS 18 standard is to set out requirements for the presentation and disclosure of information in general purpose financial statements to help ensure they provide relevant information that faithfully represents an entity’s assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. The new Standard will give investors more transparent and comparable information about companies’ financial performance. IFRS 18 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027 (retrospective application is mandatory). IFRS 18 replaces current IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements. New standard carries forward many requirements from IAS 1 unchanged. • IFRS 18 introduces three sets of new requirements to improve companies’ reporting of financial performance. • Comparability in the income statement. IFRS 18 introduces defined categories for income and expenses - operating, investing, financing and taxes - to improve the structure of the income statement, and requires all companies to provide new defined subtotals. • Transparency of management-defined performance measures (often referred to as alternative performance measures). IFRS 18 requires companies to disclose explanations of company specific measures that are related to the income statement, referred to as management- defined performance measures. The new requirements will improve the discipline and transparency of management-defined performance measures. • Grouping of information in the financial statements. IFRS 18 sets out guidance on how to organise information and whether to provide it in the primary financial statements or in the notes. The changes are expected to provide more detailed and useful information. IFRS 18 also requires companies to provide more transparency about operating expenses. • The Group is evaluating the impact of the new standard and expects it to have material impact on the Group’s income statement, cash flow statement, and certain notes to the consolidated financial statements. In relation to the income statement, the Group anticipates a decrease in the operating result (IFRS), primarily due to the results of associated companies being excluded from the operating result. In relation to the cash flow statement, the Group expects that the net cash from operating activities will increase (mainly due to interest paid being reclassified to financing activities). Net cash from investing activities is also expected to increase (primarily as interest and dividends received will be included in investing activities rather than operating activities). Net cash from financing activities is expected to decrease (mainly due to inclusion of interest paid). • Other published standards, standard amendments or interpretations are not expected to have any significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements or disclosures. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 140 ===== SIDA 141 ===== 1.2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires management to make estimates, judgements and assumptions that affect the reported assets and liabilities, as well as the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the reporting date and the reported income and expenses during the period. These estimates, judgments and assumptions might have a significant impact on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial statements. The estimates are based on historical experience and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable and reflect management’s best estimates, though actual result and timing could differ from these. The estimates, judgements and assumptions are reviewed regularly and updated if there are changes in circumstances or as a result of new information. The accounting items presented below represent those matters which include the most estimation uncertainty and exercise of judgement. More details are included in the respective notes. • Property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and right-of-use assets and Goodwill – note 2.4 Depreciation, amortisation and impairments • Income taxes – note 2.6 Income taxes • Post-employment benefits – note 3.3 Post-employment benefit obligations • Leases – note 4.1 Intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets • Forest assets – note 4.2 Forest assets • Fair value of financial instruments – note 4.4 Equity instruments and note 5.2 Fair values. • Provisions – note 4.9 Provisions Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 141 ===== SIDA 142 ===== 2 Financial performance 2.1 Segment information Accounting principles Stora Enso’s reportable segments are Packaging Materials, Packaging Solutions, Biomaterials, Wood Products, Forest and the segment Other. Operating segments reflect the Group’s management structure and the way financial information is regularly reviewed. Costs, revenues, assets and liabilities are allocated to operating segments on a consistent basis. Transactions between operating segments are based on arm’s length terms, and they are eliminated on consolidation. The activities of the reportable segments are: Packaging Materials Packaging Materials is a global leader and expert partner in circular packaging providing premium packaging boards, made from virgin and recycled fiber. Stora Enso helps customers reduce the use of fossil-based materials by offering renewable and recyclable products for their food, beverage, and transport packaging based on a wide selection of base boards and barrier coatings. Packaging Solutions Packaging Solutions is a packaging converter that produces premium fiber-based packaging products for leading brands across multiple market areas, including retail, e-commerce, and industrial applications. Additionally, the offering includes design and sustainability services to help customers optimise material use, improve logistics, and reduce CO2 emissions. Biomaterials Biomaterials’ foundation is built on pulp, with the aim of becoming customers’ first choice in selected grades. To unlock the full potential of a tree, the business also leverages all fractions to create innovative biobased solutions, that replace fossil-based and other non-renewable materials. Wood Products Wood Products is Europe’s largest sawn timber producer and a leading provider of sustainable wood-based solutions for the global building sector. It provides the building sector with renewable and low-carbon wood-based solutions that help decarbonise the built environment. Additionally, the offering includes window and door components, and co- products such as pellets made from wood residuals. Forest Forest is responsible for wood sourcing for Stora Enso’s Nordic and Baltic operations as well as for B2B customers. It manages the Group’s forest assets in the Nordics. The operations are based on sustainable forest management encompassing planning, logistics, harvesting, and forest regeneration. Segment Other The segment Other includes the reporting of the emerging businesses as well as Stora Enso’s shareholding in the energy company Pohjolan Voima (PVO), and Group’s shared services and administration. Segment reporting will change as of 1 January 2026 with more details of the change included under note 7.2 Events after the reporting period. External sales 46% 11% 12% 17% 14% 0% Packaging Materials Packaging Solutions Biomaterials Wood Products Forest Segment Other Personnel by segment 36% 22% 10% 21% 8% 3% Packaging Materials Packaging Solutions Biomaterials Wood Products Forest Segment Other Capital expenditure 58% 8% 22% 8% 3%1% Packaging Materials Packaging Solutions Biomaterials Wood Products Forest Segment Other Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 142 ===== SIDA 143 ===== Operating segments 2025 EUR million Packaging Materials Packaging Solutions Biomaterials Wood Products Forest Other Eliminations Group External sales 4,255 1,016 1,151 1,611 1,254 39 0 9,326 Internal sales 224 11 308 205 1,958 155 -2,861 0 Sales total 4,478 1,027 1,458 1,817 3,212 194 -2,861 9,326 Product sales 9,259 Service sales 67 Sales total 9,326 Material and services -3,489 -688 -1,017 -1,480 -2,991 -293 2,937 -7,020 Personnel expenses -517 -182 -134 -229 -117 -53 0 -1,232 Operating result 83 2 144 -16 826 -98 1 942 Net financial expense -159 Income taxes -97 Result for the period 686 Operative assets 4,625 790 2,708 983 7,786 1,005 -382 17,516 Tax receivables 251 Interest-bearing receivables 1,293 Total assets 19,059 Operative liabilities 1,054 202 301 306 803 298 -359 2,605 Tax liabilities 1,331 Interest-bearing liabilities 4,473 Total liabilities 8,410 Other items Depreciations/impairments/impairment reversals -245 -70 -100 -56 -22 -14 0 -507 Capital expenditures (excluding investments in biological assets) 391 54 151 53 22 7 0 678 Operating capital 3,571 588 2,407 677 6,983 707 -23 14,911 Average personnel 6,803 4,110 1,925 3,963 1,499 578 0 18,877 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 143 ===== SIDA 144 ===== Operating segments 2024 EUR million Packaging Materials Packaging Solutions Biomaterials Wood Products Forest Other Eliminations Group External sales 4,207 977 1,303 1,357 1,157 49 0 9,049 Internal sales 295 10 284 165 1,670 128 -2,552 0 Sales total 4,502 987 1,587 1,522 2,827 176 -2,552 9,049 Product sales 8,986 Service sales 63 Sales total 9,049 Material and services -3,489 -669 -1,024 -1,242 -2,624 -291 2,600 -6,738 Personnel expenses -513 -185 -137 -205 -112 -75 0 -1,228 Operating result -169 -394 256 -73 646 -162 -11 93 Net financial expense -211 Income taxes -65 Result for the period -183 Operative assets 4,594 807 2,835 803 8,036 743 -325 17,494 Tax receivables 236 Interest-bearing receivables 2,072 Total assets 19,802 Operative liabilities 1,138 202 318 250 703 298 -301 2,606 Tax liabilities 1,429 Interest-bearing liabilities 5,779 Total liabilities 9,813 Other items Depreciations/impairments/impairment reversals -560 -452 -99 -100 -21 -13 0 -1,246 Capital expenditures (excluding investments in biological assets) 709 50 136 50 21 43 0 1,009 Operating capital 3,457 606 2,518 553 7,334 445 -24 14,888 Average personnel 7,074 4,229 1,989 3,736 1,480 725 0 19,233 Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 144 ===== SIDA 145 ===== Geographical information External sales by destination Non-current assets by country1 Capital expenditure by country2 EUR million 2025 2024 2025 2024 2025 2024 Austria 298 294 133 132 10 6 Baltic States 307 267 57 56 10 9 Czechia 182 168 193 185 11 5 Finland 683 623 3,597 3,291 359 718 France 250 260 2 2 0 0 Germany 837 811 1 1 3 8 Italy 402 387 0 0 0 0 Netherlands 502 503 396 435 5 16 Poland 496 506 379 366 46 23 Sweden 1,344 1,255 6,725 7,077 126 131 UK 254 293 0 0 0 0 Other Europe 879 845 102 92 23 10 Total Europe 6,434 6,213 11,585 11,636 594 926 China (incl. Hong Kong) 865 931 474 593 12 9 Japan 247 248 0 0 0 0 Uruguay 29 37 1,552 1,725 45 38 USA 329 259 0 0 0 0 Other countries 1,421 1,360 322 297 26 36 Total 9,326 9,049 13,933 14,251 678 1,009 1 Non-current assets excluding financial instruments and deferred tax assets. 2 Excluding biological asset capital expenditure. 2.2 Materials and services Accounting principles Materials and services include costs of raw materials and consumables used in production processes as well as services purchased to support the Group’s production and delivery of goods to customers. Materials are recognised at cost and expensed as consumed in the production processes. Services are expensed as incurred. 2025 2024 Materials and supplies1 -5,506 -5,309 Change in inventories -28 75 Freight costs -886 -838 Goods purchased for resale -102 -107 Other production related costs -497 -559 Total -7,020 -6,738 1 Materials and supplies include mostly wood, energy and chemical costs as well as related transportation costs, hedges and purchases from associated companies. 2.3 Other operating income and expenses Accounting principles Research and development Research costs are expensed as incurred in other operating expenses in the consolidated income statement. Development costs are also expensed as incurred unless they meet the criteria to be recognised as intangible assets in accordance with IAS 38, in which case they are capitalised as intangible assets and amortised over their expected useful lives. Government grants Government grants relating to the purchase of property, plant and equipment are deducted from the carrying value of the asset, while the net cost is capitalised. Other government grants are recognised as income on a systematic basis over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs they were intended to compensate. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 145 ===== SIDA 146 ===== Other operating income and expenses EUR million 2025 2024 Other operating income Emission rights allocated and disposal gains 101 107 Sale of green certificates 3 4 Gains on disposal of fixed assets 10 8 Gains on disposal of Group companies and business operations 168 8 Dividend and gain on sale of unlisted shares 4 3 Insurance compensation 7 16 CTA release 0 1 Government grants 63 97 Other1 34 82 Total 389 325 1 Including rent income, fair value changes for non-hedge accounted derivatives and other items. Derivatives are discussed in more detail in note 5.4 Derivatives. EUR million 2025 2024 Other operating expenses Lease expenses 46 44 Credit losses, net of reversals 1 3 Losses on disposal of fixed assets 2 7 Losses on disposal of Group companies and business operations 0 8 CTA release 24 0 Provision changes in income statement 48 54 Other1 382 427 Total 503 543 1 Includes expenses related to, among others, consultancy and other services, IT and telecommunications, properties and administration, audit, training, travelling, insurance, penalties, and currency translation differences on operative payables. Materials and services include 2025 2024 Emissions rights to be delivered 41 55 The Group has recorded an other operating income of EUR 101 (107) million related to emission rights. The actual realised profits amounted to EUR 72 (63) million on the disposal of surplus rights. Under Materials and Services, an expense of EUR 41 (55) million has been booked related to the cost of CO2 emissions from production. See note 4.5 Emission rights and other non-current assets for more details related to emission rights. Lease expenses comprise expenses related to short-term leases of EUR 11 (11) million, low-value assets of EUR 29 (26) million and variable lease payments not included in the measurement of lease liabilities of EUR 1 (2) million. They also include service payments specified in lease contracts, which are excluded from the measurement of lease liabilities. In 2025, research and development expenses of EUR 62 (77) million were recorded. Auditor’s fees and services EUR million 2025 2024 Audit fees 5 4 Audit-related fees 1 0 Tax fees 0 0 Other fees 0 0 Total 5 5 Aggregate fees for professional services, services other than audit fees, rendered to the Group principal auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers amounted to EUR 1 (0) million. Audit fees relate to the auditing of the annual financial statements or ancillary services normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings. Audit- related fees are incurred for assurance, such as assurance of the Sustainability Statements, and associated services that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or for the review of financial statements. Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 146 ===== SIDA 147 ===== 2.4 Depreciation, amortisation and impairments Accounting principles Depreciation or amortisation of an asset begins when it is available for use in the location and condition necessary for it to be operated in the manner intended by management. Depreciation or amortisation ceases when the asset is derecognised or classified as held for sale. Depreciation or amortisation does not cease when the asset becomes idle. Assets are depreciated and amortised on a straight-line basis during their useful lives. Useful lives are reviewed annually. If an asset is disposed and the asset’s book value is higher than the disposal proceeds, the difference is recognised as an impairment in the period when reliable estimate of disposal loss is available, at the latest when a binding sales contract is signed. Right-of-use (ROU) assets are depreciated using the straight line method from the commencement date of the contract to the earlier of the end of the lease term or the end of the useful life of the ROU assets. The carrying amounts of intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and ROU assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment, whereas goodwill is tested for impairment annually. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount is estimated as the higher of the fair value less costs of disposal and the value in use (discounted cash flow method), with an impairment being recognised whenever the carrying amount exceeds the recoverable amount. A previously recognised impairment is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount, however, not to an extent higher than the carrying amount that would have existed had no impairment been recognised in prior years. For goodwill, however, a recognised impairment is not reversed. Whilst intangible assets, property, plant and equipment and ROU assets are subject to impairment testing at the cash generating unit (CGU) level, goodwill is subject to impairment testing at the CGU or group of CGUs level, which represents the lowest level within the Group at which goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes. Critical accounting estimates and judgement The value in use (discounted cash flow) method uses future projections of cash flows of a CGU or a group of CGUs and includes, among other estimates, projections of future product pricing, production levels, costs, market supply and demand, projected capital expenditures and weighted average cost of capital. The discount rates used reflect the best estimate of the weighted average cost of capital. The Group has evaluated the most sensitive estimates and assumptions, which, when changed, could have a material impact on the valuation of the assets including goodwill and, therefore, could lead to an impairment. These estimates and assumptions are sales prices, operating costs, the discount rate and expected remaining useful life. Management believes that the assigned values and useful lives, as well as the underlying assumptions, are reasonable, though different assumptions and assigned useful lives could have a significant impact on the reported amounts. For material intangible assets and property, plant and equipment in an acquisition, an external advisor makes a fair valuation and assists in determining their remaining useful life. The key assumptions used in the impairment testing are explained further in this note. Depreciation, amortisation and impairments EUR million 2025 2024 Depreciation and amortisation Intangible assets 33 37 Buildings and structures 62 66 Plant and equipment 333 334 Right-of-use assets 46 56 Other tangible assets 8 8 Total 482 500 Impairment Goodwill 0 342 Intangible assets 2 30 Buildings and structures 0 90 Plant and equipment 14 254 Right-of-use assets 11 26 Other tangible assets 0 5 Total 26 746 Reversal of impairment Buildings and structures -1 0 Plant and equipment 0 -1 Total -1 -1 Depreciation, amortisation and impairments 507 1,246 Impairment testing The recoverable amount for the cash generating units (CGUs) has been determined as the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and their value in use. Value in use is determined by using cash flow projections from financial estimates approved by the Board of Directors and management. The pre-tax discount rates are determined for each CGU, taking into account the business environment of the CGU and the tax and risk profile of the country in which the cash flow is generated. The table in the goodwill impairment testing section below sets out the pre-tax discount rates used for goodwill impairment testing, which are similar to those used in the impairment testing of other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and ROU assets. The following assumptions are used in calculating value in use for each CGU: • Sales price estimates in accordance with internal and external specialist analysis; • Cash flows and discount rates were prepared in nominal terms; • Current cost structure to remain unchanged; • For goodwill testing, a five-year future period, followed by perpetuity value, • For other intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and ROU assets, the testing period is the remaining expected useful life of the assets. Property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets, and ROU assets impairments The total impairments on property, plant and equipment, other intangible assets and ROU assets in 2025 amounted to EUR 26 (405) million. In 2025, no significant impairments. In 2024, impairments were primarily related to the Packaging Materials, Packaging Solutions and Wood Products segments. In Packaging Materials, the impairments of EUR 248 million were related to the Consumer Board China CGU (EUR 141 million), the Varkaus Mill CGU (EUR 54 million), the Poland CGU (EUR 27 million) and the Langerbrugge Mill CGU (EUR 24 million). In Packaging Solutions, the impairments of EUR 98 million were related to the Western Europe CGU. In Wood Products, the impairments of EUR 51 million were related to the Northern Europe CGU. Goodwill impairments The total impairments on goodwill in 2025 amounted to EUR 0 (342) million. In 2024, goodwill impairments were recognised for the Packaging Solutions Western Europe CGU (EUR 277 million), Packaging Materials Varkaus Mill CGU (EUR 36 million), Packaging Materials Langerbrugge Mill CGU (EUR 23 million) and Wood Products Norther Europe CGU (EUR 6 million). Our year 2025 Our strategy Our people Governance Shareholders Report of the Board of Directors Sustainability Statement Financial Statements Appendices ≡ A u d i t e d 147 ===== SIDA 148 =====