Monday, 19 July 2010 12:00

Unilever sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy gives preference to FSC

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Global consumer goods company Unilever published its sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy on 2 July 2010. The policy gives clear preference to sourcing FSC certified virgin paper or board.

Unilever’s sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy outlines goals and principles of the company’s sustainable sourcing of renewable material. In the policy, Unilever announces the ambitious goal to work with its suppliers to source 75 per cent of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, rising to 100 per cent by 2020.

Unilever requires suppliers to have mechanisms in place to ensure that virgin fiber paper packaging comes from forests that are not being converted to plantations or non-forest use, where traditional and civil rights are respected, and high conservation values are respected. The policy and the related FAQs clearly state that “the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme is the most comprehensive Forest Management Certification Scheme globally” and that “currently there are no other existing forest certification schemes that could address our concerns”. Additionally, the implementation guidelines to the sourcing policy consider FSC Controlled Wood as a criterion to prove that the virgin fiber is from non-controversial sources. 

The FSC Principles and Criteria on which the FSC standards are based require compliance with all applicable laws and international treaties, recognition and respect of indigenous peoples' rights, maintenance of the ecological functions and integrity of the forest, maintenance of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) and prohibit conversion of forests or any other natural habitat.

To learn more about the FSC Principles and Criteria, please go to www.fsc.org/pc

Unilever’s sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy is available at Unilever Sustainability

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