FULL STORY
UPM and SGS have finalised a global landmark agreement in which the origin of all UPM pulp and paper products will be ensured with a single, global system. For UPM's customers, the new multi-site certification means a major step towards a simple, standardised way to guarantee the origin of UPM products.
The multi-site certification, signed with the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company SGS, ensures that 100 per cent of fibre used for UPM's pulp and paper products is from forests that are managed responsibly. This unique agreement brings UPM's global operations together under two certified chain-of-custody certificates — FSC and PEFC.
The multi-site certification covers all UPM's pulp sourcing activities, pulp and paper mills, and sales offices. The certification continues to allow UPM and its customers to accurately follow the amount of certified wood fibre in their operations and products being distributed worldwide. In addition, it sets a solid base to further increase the share of FSC and PEFC certified fibre in UPM's products as further forest areas become certified.
‘The project to merge the individual chain-of-custody certificates from 19 operations and 30 sales offices into two global certificates has been a great accomplishment. With our key partner SGS we have achieved a global system which is very simple and manageable,’ said Sami Lundgren, head of Environmental Services, UPM.
‘The new program with UPM is a most comprehensive and wide-ranging multi-site certification that exists to date. We are proud and well-positioned to assist. The wide geographical coverage of our network, whilst maintaining a good, high level feedback to UPM from our project management team, ensures maximum benefits from this complex requirement and gives the client the best opportunity to leverage their internal strengths,’ added Jeff Dowson, international sales manager at SGS.
The Chain of Custody (CoC) verifies that the wood used in a product originates from responsibly managed and certified forests.
For additional information, visit: PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) at: www.pefc.org, or the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) at: www.fsc.org.
© Graphic Repro On-line, 25 August 2009.
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