Justifying Paper Certification
So what's the answer? I'm not saying that every in-plant should be CoC certified. Not by a long shot. Yes, be sure everything you use is certified to something (FSC, SFI or PEFC). Promote it, talk about it, endorse it, specify it and above all, understand that it means something. You're doing your part to combat illegal, unethical and unsustainable forestry practices. If you produce marketing materials for your organization, look at your competitors' materials. Are they labeling products? If so, why? And why not you? What benefits are derived from making such a simple statement as applying an FSC or SFI label?
Vic Nathan Barkin has more than 35 years of experience in the printing, paper and wood products industries and currently owns a consulting practice specializing in business development, workflow, and technology implementation, focusing on “Green Procurement and Production” practices. Vic is a QMS Lead Auditor certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards, is a consultant for the Rainforest Alliance as an FSC Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood senior auditor, is an FSC, SFI and PEFC lead auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers and SGS North America, and has engaged in more than 700 site assessments and audits.
