Myllykoski to further expand paper offerings with PEFC and FSC certifications

   Moscow. Feb 09, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. Myllykoski's commitment to responsible fibre sourcing was strengthened in 2008 when both MD Plattling and Plattling Papier paper mills in Germany achieved PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) chain of custody certifications. Furthermore, Alsip mill in the United States, IL, earned SFI (Sustainable Forestry Intiative) chain of custody certification in January 2009. The Plattling, Madison, and Alsip mills are currently also pursuing FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) chain of custody certification, the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network.

All Myllykoski's nine paper mills are now certified according to the PEFC (incl. SFI) and/or FSC chain of custody standards. A certified and consistent chain of custody process from the forest to the end-use confirms the amount of wood fiber originating from certified forests.

Forest Certification is an efficient tool for enhancing sustainable forest management. Myllykoski supports PEFC (incl. SFI) and FSC which are both international in scope, with internally agreed principles and which rest on third-party, independent certification. The certification is based on a defined set of rigorous performance standards proving that the wood fiber originates from sustainably managed forests and from legal sources. Chain of Custody certification is a mechanism that creates an information link between the raw material included in a forest-based product and the origin of that raw material.

Myllykoski’s mills in Germany, Switzerland, Finland and the United States consume about 2 million cubic meters of spruce pulp wood annually. The company’s own wood sourcing units are responsible for supplying wood to the mills. The wood is purchased from non-industrial private forests as well as from community and state-owned forests.