The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) will once again be exhibiting at this year’s Packaging Innovations show, where they will be co-exhibiting with PEFC’s North American member, SFI, as well as PEFC certified packaging company, AB Group Packaging. PEFC UK will be using the show to promote the benefits of responsibly-sourced packaging materials. The Packaging Innovations show will be held at London’s Olympia on September 14 & 15^th and PEFC will be located at stand D8. 

This year’s exhibition will be the third in a row for PEFC. Participation has enabled the organisation to promote sustainable sourcing to buyers, suppliers, manufacturers and designers of packaging and packaging-related materials. 

Once again PEFC will be sharing its stand with co-sponsor AB Group Packaging, who will be exhibiting packaging solutions from their customers’ well known brands. On display is a wide and varied range of flexible packaging products.  AB Group Packaging is a multinational high volume manufacturer of paper bags and flexible packaging for buyers across a broad range of market sectors, including high street retailers, promotional companies, independent stores and online and express delivery retailers. The company also supplies the food and industrial markets, and owns and operates four strategically located manufacturing plants in Ireland, the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom. All manufacturing sites can produce 100% recycled products, and are dual certified to both PEFC and Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification standards.

PEFC Chain of Custody certification helps packaging companies demonstrate that they are sourcing raw materials from well- managed forests.  This enables them to differentiate their products in the marketplace and gain recognition for their commitment to responsible sourcing. 

Commenting on the importance of responsible sourcing, PEFC UK Chairman, Ross Bradshaw stated, “PEFC’s last global consumer survey found that more than 80% of respondents wanted to see companies sourcing materials from well-managed forests, to use a label on product to provide them with assurances of responsible sourcing.” 

PEFC, as the world’s leading forest certification system, has certified more than 300 million hectares of forests to PEFC’s internationally recognised Sustainability Benchmarks, supplying more than 18,000 Chain of Custody certified companies with responsibly sourced timber and wood products, such as those used in producing fibre-based paper products such as packaging.

Today, more and more companies from SMEs to global brands are keen to demonstrate that the fibre they use in their packaging materials comes from a certified sustainable source. This is important as consumers are increasingly conscious of how their purchasing decisions impact on the world’s natural resources.

PEFC has been working hard with stakeholders to spread the message of sustainable forest management, in order to support and promote the expansion of forest certification and help to grow the demand for certified forest products. This includes organisations such as the Consumer Goods Forum, who have recognised PEFC certified products as providing companies with verification of legality and providing a low risk of controversial sources which contribute to deforestation. The CGF brings together more than 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders, with members including global players such as Coca Cola, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg’s, L’Oréal, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Tesco and Asda-Walmart.