UPM Raflatac, Inc. achieves chain of custody certification from three leading forest certification programs

UPM Raflatac, Inc. announces the company's achievement of chain of custody certification from the world’s three prominent forest certification organizations – the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI), the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The certifications cover UPM Raflatac’s North America labelstock manufacturing facilities located in Fletcher, North Carolina, and Dixon, Illinois, and the company's slitting and distribution terminal located in Ontario, California.

Using an independent, third-party auditor, UPM Raflatac has demonstrated that its raw materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests and manufactured by mills that adhere to their rigorous standards. The chain of custody certifications demonstrate that UPM Raflatac has established an effective tracking system to identify the amount of certified, uncertified and recycled content in the forest products purchased and used in the company's production processes, as well as in the finished labelstock that is offered to their customers.

“Acquiring chain of custody certification from all three internationally recognized forest certification programs demonstrates our commitment to environmental leadership,” says Linnea Keen, Marketing Director, UPM Raflatac, Inc. “Our certifications are an important part of UPM Raflatac’s sustainability program. We have implemented a comprehensive environmental strategy which addresses all aspects of labelstock manufacturing to optimize production processes, reduce waste and create innovative products and services.”

UPM Raflatac’s sustainable practices include:

• Offering customers a choice of SFI, PEFC and FSC-certified products to ensure that they have the best labelstock options for their converting needs.
• Obtaining ISO 14001, Environmental Management System certification for the company’s manufacturing facilities worldwide, with ISO 14001 certification of the Fletcher, North Carolina, factory by the end of 2008.
• Using environmentally sound manufacturing and distribution processes.
• Continuously reducing the use of resources and production waste through operational excellence, materials reuse, recycling and energy recovery.
• Using solvent-free, water-based emulsion adhesives and silicones to minimize labelstock products’ impact on the environment.
• Developing innovative products, such as UPM ProFi, that use waste as a raw material and create new sources of value.
  Making strategic investments in environmental initiatives and internal audits to enhance critical processes on an ongoing basis. 

“Demand for paper from well-managed forests and legal sources is increasing worldwide and with this achievement, UPM Raflatac joins a growing number of companies that are demonstrating their environmental commitment through certification to the SFI program,” said SFI Inc. President and CEO Kathy Abusow. “At a time when just 10 percent of the world’s forests are independently certified, this is a simple and effective way to strengthen the supply chain and improve forest management on a global scale.”

For more information, please contact:

Ms Linnea Keen, Marketing Director, UPM Raflatac, Inc.
Tel. +1-828-651-4804
Ms Patricia Lähepelto, Marketing Communications Manager, UPM Raflatac, Inc. Tel. +1-828-279-6340

About SFI Inc.

SFI Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is solely responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program. SFI Inc. directs all elements of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program including the SFI Standard, chain of custody certification, fiber sourcing requirements, labeling and marketing. SFI Inc. is overseen by a three-chamber Board of Directors representing social, environmental and economic sectors. For more information about the SFI program, visit www.sfiprogram.org

About PEFC

The PEFC is a global umbrella organization for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. It is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. For more information about PEFC, visit www.pefc.org.

About FSC

Forest Stewardship Council supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers, by encouraging the development of national and regional forest management standards, and by providing public education and information about independent, third-party certification as a tool for ensuring that the world's forests are protected for future generations. Forest certification enables consumers to make informed choices when selecting wood and other forest products. FSC-US, the US national chapter of FSC International, is responsible for establishing independent forest certification standards and promoting FSC certification in the U.S. There are currently nearly 25 million acres of FSC-certified forestland in the United States and more than 268 million acres globally. Further information about FSC-US can be found at www.fscus.org.