Certifications

We like clarity and simplicity. So below we explain the certifications you’re most likely to see in Europe, and those most relevant to sustainable food packaging and tableware.

If you have any questions on certifications and what consequences they might have for your organisation, please don’t hesitate to drop us a message.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Paper and cardboard are known for being “sustainable materials”, but if they are produced from randomly cut trees, it would be far from a sustainable process.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) aims to promote responsible forestry. FSC-certified forests are managed with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment. They are independently audited to ensure they meet FSC’s principles and criteria for forest management.

FSC has 10 criteria for responsible forest management, ranging from complying with international treaties, to maintaining the social wellbeing of workers and conserving ecosystems. The FSC certification system focuses on forest management and chain of custody, ensuring that certified products have a responsible and transparent source.

You will see the FSC logo on some of our Verive paper and wooden products, when you buy these products you are helping promote “environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.”

For more information visit: https://fsc.org/en

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification – (PEFC)

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification , like FSC, also works to promote and certify responsible forestry. At PEFC they work with local organisations to advance forest management practices through national forest certification systems.

When you see the PEFC label, you can be assured that you aren’t contributing to deforestation and the rights of workers have been protected throughout the production process. Additionally, any packaging or tableware that is PEFC certified comes with the assurance that a minimum of 70% of the forest-based materials within that product have come from sustainably managed forests, recycled and controlled sources.

For more information visit: https://www.pefc.org/

EN13432:2000 for compostable packaging

This is a European standard which certifies that packaging will compost by industrial and commercial composting systems, within a 12 week timeframe. Any products with this certification will meet the specific evaluation criteria. This standard comes under the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC), which has been translated and implemented across all EU member states.

The criteria include:

– At least 90% of the product must break down to a maximum of 2mm particles within 12 weeks

– The product must break down into organic substances within 6 months

– A maximum concentration of heavy metals and fluorine must not be exceeded

– The product must not have a harmful effect on the quality of the compost

Any products in our Verive range carrying this logo are compostable in accordance with this certification, so you can comfortably say that the packaging you use is fully compostable.

Got a question about certifications? Ask us today.

Lauren Mooney

Going green is powerful, ask the Hulk

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