Press Release from Paper Loop
The Confederation of European Paper industries today urged all those along the forest-based industry chain to focus on the importance of assuring sustainable forest management and to move away from debate over individual forest certification schemes.
Teresa Presas, managing director of CEPI said: "Sustainability is a major issue in today's political, economic and environmental agenda and plays an increasingly important part in decision making, from governments to industry to retailers. Informed decisions require access to clear and objective information; when neutral information isn't available, it can be easy to lose sight of the real issue, in this case sustainable forest management. CEPI has recognized the need for transparent information on forest certification and has created the on-line comparative matrix to meet that need."
Forest certification is one means of assuring sustainable forest management.
Responsibly managed forests provide many benefits for society, and an inherently sustainable and renewable resource base for the paper industry. The paper industry fully supports and actively promotes sustainable forest management.
The rate of increase in certified forest surface area in the past decade has been dramatic. In 1994 only a few million hectares of forest area worldwide were certified. In 2005, that figure stands at more than 220 million hectares. The number of certification schemes, both in Europe and internationally, has also multiplied. The increase in, and therefore choice of, existing forest certification systems has created confusion and uncertainty over the respective characteristics of each scheme.
In today's market and environmentally aware climate there is an increasing need for forest owners, public authorities and customers to be able to make informed decisions relating to forest certification. To do so there is also a need for easy access to a comprehensive, transparent and up-to-date source for that information. CEPI has recognized this need and has developed the on-line Matrix in response. Representing the European paper industry, CEPI is well placed to provide a platform for information on forestry certification schemes.
The on-line Matrix allows users to electronically compare information on all existing European and international certification schemes and the labels issued under them, against internationally recognized criteria and to draw their own informed conclusions. The Matrix provides the most complete and current information on 39 different certification schemes, updated on a regular and ongoing basis.
