HELP TRANSFORM THE PAPER INDUSTRY
GET CERTIFIED: The first step in the journey to help transform the paper industry is to become FSC certified yourself. As a manufacturer of paper and paper products, you can obtain the Chain of Custody Certification which will enable you to apply FSC labels on your products, as long as you procured the raw material for them from FSC certified sources. To achieve this certification, you must meet the FSC-STD-40-004 Chain of Custody Certification standard.
You may also be managing your own plantations for raw material. You can obtain Forest Management Certification and ensure a sustainable supply of raw material from your plantation.
As a manufacturer of paper and paper products, you are eligible to the Chain Of Custody Certification. To achieve this, you must meet the If you manage your own plantations for raw material, then you can also obtain Forest Management Certification and promote raw material to others as well from FSC certified plantations.
Here are the steps you can take to obtain certification:
• Contact an FSC-Accredited Certification body: They can provide you with all the information you need about the requirements for FSC certification, including the cost and time needed for the process. Here's a list of some Certification Bodies and contact information to get you started.
| S.No | Name | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | NEPCon India Pvt. Ltd. Address: A-3, Mod Apartment, 61 Vasundhra Enclave, Delhi – 110096 Website: www.nepcon.org |
Contact Person (India): Aadarsh Mohandas Tel: +91-9111133990 Email: amohandas@nepcon.org |
| 2 | Forest Certification LLC Address: 60/A Mahendra Banerjee Road, Kolkata, 700060 Website: www.willenskraft.co.in |
Contact Person (India): Sanjit Sarkar Tel: +91-9674747110 Email: contact@willenskraft.co.in |
| 3 | Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) Address: 505, 5th Floor, Matrix Tower B - 4, Sector 132, Noida - 201304 (U.P), India Website: www.gicia.org |
Contact Person (India): Shilpa Naryal Tel: +91-120-6758614 Email: shilpa@gicia.org |
| 4 | TUV India Pvt. Ltd. Address: 801, Raheja Plaza – 1, L.B.S Marg, Ghatkopar ( W), Mumbai 400 086 Website: www.tuv-nord.com |
Contact Person (India): Prakash Mishra Tel: +91-9811905234 Email: prakashmishra@tuv-nord.com |
| 5 | Control Union Address: 22nd & 23rd Floor, B wing Arihant Aura, Plot no. 13/1, TTC, Opp. Turbhe Railway Thane Belapur Road, 400705 Navi Mumbai, India Website: www.controlunion.com |
Contact Person (India): J. P. Easwarlal Tel: +91-8870008121 Email: jeawarlal@controlunion.com |
• Prepare for an audit: FSC Certification requires that you meet the highest standards of sustainability. This means you have to clear the FSC-Accredited body’s audit for your company’s or your plantation’s qualification for certification. Spend some time to improve your business practices and review your plantation management practices to ensure you have a clear audit when the time comes.
• Get audited and certified: The FSC-Accredited body you selected will undertake an audit of your business and plantation management practices. If the audit outcomes are positive, you will receive the certificate you applied for. If the audit reveals some gaps in being fully compliant with FSC requirements, you can undergo a second audit after implementing the changes suggested in the certification report. FSC certificates are valid for five years. The FSC-accredited certification body will conduct annual surveillance audits to verify your continued compliance with FSC certification requirements.
GET FSC CERTIFIED RAW MATERIAL: As a business which holds a Chain of Custody Certification and does not have its own plantations, you will need to source your raw material like pulp and wood from other FSC certified businesses. You can find these businesses on FSC’s website – info.fsc.org which maintains an updated list of all vendors around the world that are FSC certified. You can search their database to find the right match for your needs. Here’s an easy guide on how to use the FSC database.
PROMOTE FSC TO YOUR SUPPLIERS AND CUSTOMERS: You have the power to influence many others in joining the movement towards sustainable production and consumption of forest products. Help spread the word by encouraging your suppliers to obtain FSC certification and promoting FSC certified paper products to your clients. Here’s what you can do:
• Encourage your suppliers of wood or pulp to get FSC certified. Not only will this increase the availability of certified raw material for your operations, but it would also give the much needed push to the paper industry at large to move towards sustainability.
• Educate your sales team about the environmental and social benefits of FSC. This will ensure your team can effectively promote FSC certified products to your buyers.
• Use your FSC certification to build your brand image as a sustainable and responsible company that is taking significant steps to reduce its footprint on global forests. By proudly highlighting the FSC label on your products, you are also helping your customers make responsible choices which contribute to protecting the world’s forests.