After a great deal of internal preparation, the writing of procedures and work instructions, PrintSolutionsHolland has been awarded the FSC and PEFC certificates.

A tree’s journey from an FSC accredited forest to a paper end product is long and undergoes a whole series of handling processes. The principal aim of Chain of Custody certification is to ensure that the FSC-accredited material is monitored in the production chain from the forest to the finished product. This method enables (end) consumers to make a choice in favour of FSC-certified products, secure in the knowledge that the origin of the raw materials is being monitored.

Each link in the production chain from forest to end product must be certified by FSC and must undergo an audit for that purpose. Once accredited, the company acquires permission to purchase FSC certified raw material bearing an FSC label, to process it and ultimately to sell FSC products. In short, FSC Chain of Custody certification allows companies to market products bearing the FSC label.

PrintSolutionsHolland undertakes to observe all of the requirements stated by FSC and PEFC.  The 2 FSC and PEFC verification marks are outlined briefly below:

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council):

The FSC verification mark (Forest Stewardship Council) is the most well-known verification mark internationally. The verification mark was created as a result of the need to promote the harvesting of wood. The FSC logo provides a guarantee that the wood originates form a managed forest. The verification mark operates on the basis of a general standard of ten Principles, expressed in Criteria, Indicators and Standards. This general standard is translated into a local standard for each country or region by a local working group. It is important in both the general assembly and the local working groups that the relationship between groups which represent economic, ecological and social aspects is in balance. This means that all parties can have an equal say. In the Netherlands approximately 105,032 hectares of woodland is accredited according to the FSC standard, and worldwide that figure is over 100 million hectares (as of March 2007).

PEFC (Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes):

Another important verification mark is the PEFC, Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes, previously known as the Pan European Forest Certificate. The PEFC-certificate is a voluntary initiative by the individual sector. It provides a guarantee by forest owners that the products which customers purchase are certified by independent parties on the basis of the PEFC criteria. These criteria focus on sustainable and responsible forestry management. The aim of the PEFC forestry certificate is the promotion of an internationally credible frame for forestry certification verification marks and initiatives within and outside Europe and global recognition of the verification marks.

The PEFC Technical Document and statutes define the basic requirements for these forestry certification verification marks. Due to the background to this verification mark, it is more geared to economic than to ecological interests. In Germany for example, two of the eighteen seats on the accreditation council are assigned to ecological interest groups. Ecological interests are further represented in part by the regular forestry organisations. By now approx. 196.32 million hectares of forest globally are accredited in accordance with the PEFC. There is no PEFC accredited forest in the Netherlands (as of April 2007).