DS聽Smith, a leading sustainable packaging company, announced 聽it has received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certification across its U.S.-based packaging operations. Along with the company鈥檚 existing Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Certified Sourcing certification, FSC certification demonstrates DS聽Smith鈥檚 commitment to providing sustainable solutions for customers.
DS Smith鈥檚 FSC Chain-of-Custody certification is a public commitment to use fiber from responsibly managed forests, and it provides a link between responsibly sourced fiber and the packaging used by manufacturers, ensuring brands and consumers are confident that the products they are buying come from a responsible source.
This certification is part of DS Smith鈥檚 industry-leading Now and Next sustainability initiative, which is focused on the sustainability challenges we are facing today and those that will impact future generations.聽鈥淐onsumers appreciate being able to participate in supporting sustainability through their purchases, and FSC鈥檚 credibility is a great benefit for brands who value sustainability,鈥� said Giancarlo Maroto, managing director, paper, forestry and recycling, for DS Smith North America.
鈥淐ertifications from FSC and SFI provide peace of mind to our business and our customers, knowing that we can service the increasing market demand for forest products from responsible sources and provide our customers with additional support as they make sustainable choices about the paper products they use,鈥� he said.
DS Smith鈥檚 packaging materials begin life in responsibly managed forests and can be easily recycled up to 7 to 10 times through conventional recycling infrastructure or biodegraded naturally, without causing long-term environmental impacts.
FSC works to ensure that forest managers comply with domestic laws and international agreements and consider the environmental, social and economic principles and criteria related to the forest. Depending on the needs of companies seeking certification, certifiers evaluate both forest management activities (forest certification) and tracking of forest products (chain-of-custody certification). The chain-of-custody includes the forest, pulp mill, paper mill and paper.