FSC and PEFC certification demonstrates pallet pooling leader's commitment to best forest management standards.
CHEP, a global leader in pallet and container pooling services, today announced that the company's operations in Europe have received the highest certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). The bodies, which are two of the world's most respected forest management organisations, acknowledged CHEP's strict adherence to sustainable sourcing of timber for pallets. CHEP is now the only pooling company in the world with both an FSC and PEFC multisite certification.
CHEP Europe, Middle East & Africa's (EMEA) Director of Sustainability, Dr Juan José Freijo, said: "This certification enables CHEP to guarantee to our customers that all of our wooden products are purchased according to the FSC and PEFC rules and that the timber purchased is from legal and sustainable sources. The current certification covers the UK, Spain, France and Belgium and we plan to expand it in the near future to cover all European countries where we operate".
The FSC is an international organisation regarded as the benchmark for all forest management standards and enjoys the full support of environmental non-governmental organizations including Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund. The PEFC promotes sustainability through third-party certification and provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests.
CHEP EMEA's Sourcing Manager for wooden pallets, Bart De Laender, said: "Completing the FSC and PEFC certification demonstrates our commitment to act with integrity and respect for the community and environment in everything we do. In addition, both the FSC and PEFC adhere to Chain of Custody (CoC) Certification, which provides evidence that certified products originate from certified, well-managed forests."
Demand for certified forest products has grown dramatically in recent years, and companies that wish to trade in them need to attain their own CoC certification and be independently audited by an accredited certification body. Part of this process requires them to keep detailed records of purchases and sales so that the certified goods can be traced back to the source.
Dr Freijo said: "Our sustainable purchasing policy ensures that we buy 100% of the timber we use in our service centres from certified sources. CHEP is committed to quantifying and monitoring the impact of our business and that of our suppliers and business partners. Our intent is to provide the best supply-chain solutions that meet our customers' needs and minimize their and our impact on the environment."