FSC/PEFC certification for sustainable packaging

At a time when environmental concerns are becoming an unprecedented challenge, industrial packaging is a valuable lever for improvement.

Karoline Winkler, Head of Inside SalesTeam at Antalis Germany and also Responsible for the implementation of our FSC/PEFC process, answers questions about the FSC and PEFC labels and their impact on a company's business. Since november 2022, Antalis Verpackungen integrate FSC certification in its process.

Wood-fibres are your raw material for many eco-responsible packaging. What are the main environmental challenges that you are facing today?

Packaging is in focus in regards to sustainability from many stakeholders. We are receiving many questions, covering different environmental topics: climate change, use of resources, pollution mitigation, circular economy,…etc Together with our suppliers and design centers, we do our best to address our customers’ requests for more eco-responsible packaging products. Packaging from wood fibers and, more and more, carrying a certification (FSC and/or PEFC), are very often adequate solutions to many of these issues. Of course, this packaging must be designed, produced and used accordingly.

What are the best practices to put in place to meet these environmental challenges?

80% of all environmental impacts of a product, (including packaging products) originate in the design phase. At Antalis Verpackungen we are able to proactively influence design through our Packaging design centre, in order to have a more eco-responsible product in the end. On the other side it is also key to monitor where we are sourcing these designed products. To do so, we are working closely with our suppliers, by performing due diligence on their practices (about ethics, labor, environment), with a special focus on wood sourcing and forest management systems in place. On this very topic, Antalis has been certified with FSC and PEFC since 2010, covering the majority of its subsidiaries.

How does Antalis Verpackungen follow and apply these best practices ?

In order to fulfill the expectations from many of our customers we decided to join multisite FSC/PEFC certification, in 2022. This will enable us not only to apply eco-design, but also to source and sell certified packaging products.

How do your customers welcome this great news ? Do your clients have specific requirements related to FSC/PEFC ?

The requirement for FSC/PEFC products has grown through in the last year. In the past, these requests came from some specific industries, especially from the food packaging sector. Today FSC/PEFC Chain of Custody is a clear condition, we are not able to make a contract without the proof of sustainable sourcing. In addition, joining the Antalis multisite FSC/PEFC certification enables us to proactively offer sustainable solutions also to other industries.

Today more than ever, Antalis is committed to deal with these new environmental challenges (climate change, use of resources, pollution mitigation, circular economy) and apply these best practices in order to support their customer needs with eco-friendly packaging solutions.