(UPM Raflatac, Tampere, March 17, 2011) – UPM Raflatac has achieved both FSC® and PEFC Chain of Custody certifications for a range of labelstock produced at its Tampere factory in Finland. The certificates verify the sustainability and legality of all wood fibres used at the Tampere site for the production of paper labelstocks.
“A clear chain of custody benefits everyone in the supply chain. Our customers can purchase paper labelstock knowing that their materials are sourced from sustainably managed, legally logged forests where consideration has been given to biodiversity. Retailers are able to demonstrate their sustainable credentials to consumers, who in turn can make responsible buying decisions. This is a typical instance of our firm commitment to the continuous development of our environmental performance,” says Juha Virmavirta, General Manager for UPM Raflatac in Finland.
UPM Raflatac’s range of PEFC-approved products in Europe consists of the company’s Vellum, Raflacoat and Coated Board 130 materials, which target high-volume labelling in the food and retail industries and logistics end-uses. UPM Raflatac also offers a wide range of FSC and PEFC certified products for the A4 and cut-size market, together with a new A4 grade made from 100% recycled paper.
In addition to the Tampere site, UPM Raflatac has achieved a chain of custody satisfying both FSC and PEFC certifications for factories in Scarborough (UK), Polinya (Spain), North Carolina (USA), Illinois (USA) and Wroclaw (Poland), and FSC certification for a factory in Changshu (China). The Nancy factory in France will attain chain of custody certifications during 2011.
“This achievement is a strong step towards our dual aims of supplying customers with products that are sustainable over their lifecycle and increasing our range of eco-labelled products,” says Robert Taylor, Environmental Director for UPM’s Engineered Materials business.
UPM promotes good forest practices through forest certification and supports the two main global certification systems used in the market today, namely FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council, and PEFC, the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes.
For further information please contact:
Mr Juha Virmavirta, General Manager, UPM Raflatac Finland, tel. +358 40 504 7899
Mr Robert Taylor, Environmental Director, Engineered Materials, UPM, tel. +358 40 514 8866
About UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac, part of UPM’s Engineered Materials business group, is one of the world’s leading suppliers of self-adhesive label materials. UPM Raflatac has a global service network consisting of 11 factories on five continents and a broad network of sales offices and slitting and distribution terminals worldwide. UPM Raflatac employs 2,400 people and made sales of approximately 1.5 billion USD (1.1 billion EUR) in 2010. Further information is available at www.upmraflatac.com.
About UPM
UPM leads the integration of bio and forest industries into a new, sustainable and innovation-driven future. Our products are made of renewable raw materials and are recyclable. UPM consists of three Business Groups: Energy and pulp, Paper, and Engineered materials. The Group employs around 22,000 people and it has production plants in 15 countries. In 2010, UPM's sales amounted to EUR 8.9 billion. UPM's shares are listed on the Helsinki stock exchange. UPM – The Biofore Company – www.upm.com
UPM’s Biofore vision embraces a long-term commitment to environmental responsibility, in our operations and throughout the lifecycle of our products. Key areas in this aspiration include sustainable products, climate, water, forest and waste. UPM’s focus on the continuous development of its environmental performance drives advancement towards targets set for 2020. www.upm.com/responsibility
About FSC®
Forest Stewardship Council supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC promotes responsible forest management by evaluating and accrediting certifiers, by encouraging the development of national and regional forest management standards, and by providing public education and information about independent, third-party certification as a tool for ensuring that the world's forests are protected for future generations. Further information about FSC-US can be found at www.fsc.org.
About PEFC
The PEFC is a global umbrella organization for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes developed in a multi-stakeholder process. It is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization, founded in 1999, which promotes sustainably managed forests through independent third party certification. The PEFC provides an assurance mechanism to purchasers of wood and paper products that they are promoting the sustainable management of forests. For more information about PEFC, visit www.pefc.org.
