Baltimore  - Vertis Communications, a premier marketing services provider of targeted print advertising and direct marketing solutions to America's leading retail and consumer services companies, announced today that it has achieved Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) program chain of custody certification for seven of its 21 advertising inserts production facilities.  With this new certification, Vertis offers customers the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to responsible forestry management practices by using SFI certified papers and displaying the SFI logo on insert materials produced at these facilities.

The Sustainable Forestry Initiative program (http://www.sfiprogram.org/) tracks raw material chain of custody to assure that paper used in printed products come from organizations with forestry practices that integrate the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soils, and water.

"Vertis' certification reinforces our commitment to sound environmental practices," said Doug Mann, senior vice president and general manager of Advertising Inserts for Vertis Communications.  "The independent, third party evaluations that led to this certification affirms that our supply chain and production practices support our customers' needs and deliver consistency across our manufacturing platform."

The newly certified facilities produce advertising inserts and newspaper products and are located in Tampa; Lenexa, Kan.; Marengo, Iowa; Manassas, Va.; York, Pa.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Portland, Ore.  Vertis anticipates additional certifications in July for facilities in Riverside and Pomona, Calif.; Salt Lake City; Dallas; Columbus, Ohio; and Saugerties, N.Y.

Quincy L. Allen, chief executive officer of Vertis Communications, added, "This SFI recognition is a great complement to the existing Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain of custody certification attained by five of Vertis' direct marketing facilities located in North Brunswick, N.J.; Monroe Township, N.J.; Chalfont, Pa.; Bristol, Pa.; and Irvine, Calif.  As our customers' environmental awareness increase, Vertis is committed to supporting their goals by working diligently with established organizations and industry councils to maintain environmentally and socially conscious forest management practices."

To learn more about Vertis' SFI and FSC certifications, contact Grace Platon at 800.365.8957 or [email protected].

Sustainable Forestry Initiative and SFI are registered marks owned by Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc.