The figure for wood fibre purchased globally by Alliance for Beverage Cartons & the Environment (ACE) members, that was either FSC-certified or originated from FSC controlled wood rose to 88% in 2012 compared to 85% in 2011.
The sixth annual report by independent verifier of natural resource management Proforest on the Chain of Custody (CoC) commitment made in 2007 by ACE members Tetra Pak, Elopak and SIG Combibloc, says latest figure means ACE members are “well on track” to meet their commitment to source 100% wood fibre that is traceable to legal and acceptable sources by 2015.
According to the report, 100% of the fibre used in the EU already comes from plants which are FSC chain of custody certified, and 43 (81%) of the 53 converting plants owned by ACE beverage carton producers worldwide are now FSC chain of custody certified, up from 74% in 2011.
“It is great to see that, as Proforest have stated in their report, significant progress has been made by our members towards achieving the stretching targets set in 2007,” says ACE UK chief executive Richard Hands.
“Traceability is one of our industry’s most important strategies to combat illegal logging, and is equally important in avoiding socially and environmentally unacceptable sources of wood,” he says.
Most wood fibre for European beverage cartons originates in forests in Sweden and Finland.
Forests in these countries are said to be expanding, with growth in forest volume increasing year-on-year as annual growth actually exceeds cuttings.
“With 75% of a beverage carton, on average, being made from this natural renewable material, ACE members have a clear interest in ensuring that forests are responsibly managed,” Hands adds.
