DUBLIN, Ireland -- Smurfit Kappa announced that it has achieved 90% chain of custody certification by FSC, PEFC or SFI for the packaging it sells to customers.

The certification is a new milestone in promoting sustainable forests, providing end-to-end transparency across the supply chain and an assurance of the sustainable origin of raw materials used. Smurfit Kappa said it is dedicated to creating sustainable value for its customers and helping them to meet their own sustainability and environmental targets.

Reaching 90% certification for the packaging sold follows on from the successful implementation in 2014 of certified Chains of Custody for all the paper produced and sourced for packaging.

Certification of its products according to FSC, PEFC or SFI is the most robust way to ensure that the sourcing of the fibres for its paper-based packaging are promoting sustainable forest management.

To achieve its ambitious Chain of Custody goal, Smurfit Kappa has implemented stringent sourcing, monitoring and risk management practices across its global operations. Measures have included:

• Certification of the plantations and forests that Smurfit Kappa owns and manages by FSC or PEFC forest management schemes;
• Applying a third party certified FSC, PEFC and/or SFI Chain of Custody system across its 300+ sites;
• Applying a strict sourcing policy for its virgin and recovered fibres;
• Maintaining full transparency and traceability for complete fibre flow through the plantations and forests the company owns and manages, and through its network of trusted and certified suppliers.

Commenting on this achievement, Steven Stoffer, Group VP Development said: "At Smurfit Kappa we understand the importance of sustainability in everything we do, and see it as our responsibility to ensure the products we supply to our customers meet the highest chain of custody standards. We are delighted to have achieved this target and take great pride in contributing to better management of the world's forests and a more sustainable future."

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