Stora Enso supplied 800 m³ of Sylva CLT panels for the Czech National Pavilion and expects the partnership to expand business opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region

The company expects its partnership with the Czech National Pavilion to promote sustainable building solutions and potentially expand its activities in the Indo-Pacific market. Even before the official opening of the world exhibition, the pavilion has already attracted significant attention from the Japanese public, with local companies, political representatives, and international journalists visiting the site.

"Being a supplier and partner of the Czech National Pavilion means more to us at Stora Enso than just participating in a prestigious world exhibition. It is an opportunity to showcase innovative wooden construction solutions based on sustainability, safety, and modern building approaches—solutions that are not yet as widely known in Japan as they are in Europe. Our cross-laminated timber (CLT) structures demonstrate how wood, a traditional material, can be rediscovered as a key element for 21st-century construction," says František Vícha, Managing Director of Stora Enso Wood Products Ždírec.

Stora Enso’s CLT structures are gaining attention, with Japan’s government promoting the use of wood in non-residential buildings to cut carbon emissions and support a circular economy, confirms Satoshi Yamada, Business Director of Stora Enso's Wood Products division in Japan.

"This aligns with Stora Enso’s mission—to do good for people and the planet while replacing non-renewable materials with renewable products. EXPO 2025 in Osaka is a great opportunity to showcase our CLT solutions to Japanese and international customers and contribute to sustainability by presenting renewable Czech-made materials as an alternative to non-renewables," explains Business Director Yamada.

CLT buildings are increasingly discussed among experts and the public alike, with the Czech National Pavilion sparking particular interest. Designed to withstand typhoons, earthquakes, and fire risks, its resilience has been proven through extensive testing. "A year and a half ago, I kept hearing that such a structure couldn’t be built in Japan—that it was too innovative, even for the Japanese. Yet, two years after the architectural competition, our pavilion stands tall, and we are finalizing preparations. World expos are exactly where such innovations should be presented to the world. As I like to say, our pavilion is our most visible exhibit," concludes Ondřej Soška, Commissioner General of the Czech participation at EXPO 2025.

About Stora Enso Stora Enso is a multinational company transforming from a traditional wood processor into a modern enterprise specializing in renewable materials. The company develops and manufactures wood- and biomass-based solutions for various industries worldwide.

Within its Wood Products division, Stora Enso operates 14 production plants across Europe, including two in Czechia—Ždírec nad Doubravou and Planá u Mariánských Lázní. The division’s portfolio includes structural timber (KVH), glued laminated timber (BSH), laminated veneer lumber (LVL), as well as classic and planed sawn timber. For comprehensive building construction, it offers a complete range of solid wood components, including CLT, LVL, and BSH, supported by a suite of digital tools.

With four CLT production plants, the Wood Products division has an annual capacity of up to 390,000 m³ of this innovative construction material, with the Ždírec facility capable of producing up to 120,000 m³ per year. Each year, Stora Enso supplies materials for over 2,000 projects worldwide. You can explore inspiration and project details in the Stora Enso reference library, which also features the Czech National Pavilion for EXPO 2025, built using CLT panels supplied by Stora Enso.

About the Czech Pavilion at EXPO 2025 In December 2022, after more than twenty years, the Office of the Commissioner General announced an open, anonymous architectural competition to design the National Pavilion for EXPO 2025. Thirty-eight studios have participated, and in March 2023 a jury of experts led by the world-renowned architect Eva Jiřičná selected the winning design: a glass spiral by Apropos Architects. The main structure of the building will be made of modern wood panels, while the façade will feature art glass, which has a centuries-old tradition in Czechia. The National Pavilion, which will be located on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay from April to October 2025, will provide a prestigious setting for Czech participation at EXPO 2025. The pavilion will house a permanent exhibition, a multifunctional auditorium, facilities for business meetings, restaurants, a CTP lounge, and a relaxation area overlooking the sea.

About the Czech participation at EXPO 2025 This will be the sixth time that Czechia has taken part in a world exhibition as an independent state. Ondřej Soška, who won the Ministry of Foreign Affairs selection process with his concept and theme "Talent and Creativity for Life", has been serving as Commissioner General since September 2022. Czechia aims to showcase not only what the Japanese already know and admire, such as Czech glass and classical music, but above all Czech innovations, nanotechnologies, promising start-ups and talent from the regions.