With much of the world’s forests still considered unsustainable, responsible sourcing of fiber and forest certification has become a hot button imperative for many in packaging.

            However, forest certification is only one environmental attribute to demonstrate responsible procurement, and the packaging industry is faced with numerous partnerships and procurement possibilities. Increased partnerships can effect change around the globe -- from forests to communities to the store shelf. 

            That is the keynote message Kathy Abusow, president and ceo of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, Inc. (SFI), will present to attendees at the 2010 Sustainable Packaging Forum, to be held Sept. 14-16 at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix.

             “Manufacturers understand the extent to which they use forest-based products and the environmental impact that can have,” said Abusow in an interview with Packaging Strategies. “Tools like the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) guidelines use a life-cycle based approach to measure a variety of environmental impacts related to packaging and include a forest certification indicator. In addition to the SPC guidelines, tools like the Wal-Mart Scorecard, for example, also value and promote responsible forestry by recognizing multiple forest certification standards, including SFI. So while forest certification plays a big role in responsible procurement, there is a lot more involved.”

            A major aspect of partnerships in sustainable packaging is the relationship with consumers.  It is vital to show why it is important to ask for certified products, and help them understand which programs to support. Abusow values the work of TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, which cuts through greenwashing claims. In its latest Seven Sins of Greenwashing report, TerraChoice lists SFI and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as legitimate, credible eco-labels that meet three key criteria -- third-party certification, publicly available standards, and transparent standard development processes.

            SFI is an independent, charitable organization dedicated to promoting sustainable and responsible forest management. SFI forest certification is based on principles that promote sustainable forest management, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and Forests with Exceptional Conservation Value. The standard is used widely across North America, and has strong acceptance in the global marketplace.

            The SFI program’s on-product labels flow through either chain of custody certification, which tracks certified or recycled fiber , or through the fiber sourcing program, a procurement auditing process that demonstrates that raw material in the supply chain comes from legal and responsible sources,  whether the forests are certified or not. The mechanics of forest certification, chain of custody, fiber sourcing, and labeling will be explored in a Sustainable Packaging Forum panel discussion with FSC’s Ian Hanna and SFI’s Jason Metnick on Tues., September 15.

            To date, less than 10% of the world’s forests are certified, which is why it’s important to recognize fiber from all credible forest certification standards, said Abusow. She is, however, optimistic that more forests will be sustainable in the future as more people realize the role that forests play in a healthy lifestyle, such as providing clean air, water, oxygen, wildlife habitat, and providing jobs in these difficult economic times.

            Additionally, she said that as suppliers and manufacturers work together to establish sound procurement policies, good things will happen for their businesses and the forests.

           “The packaging industry understands the role it can play in using products from well-managed forests and they are embracing that initiative,” said Abusow. “I applaud them for that.”

To register for the conference, visit www.sustainablepackagingforum.com