The future is brighter than ever for PEFC’s global reach

2016 was a fantastic year for the PEFC Alliance, as we welcomed six new national members to the family – but 2017 could be even better!

As has become the tradition during our General Assembly, representatives from countries actively developing national forest certification systems were invited to speak – and this year we had a very busy agenda, with Cambodia, Mexico, Nepal, Philippines, Republic of Congo and Viet Nam all taking part.

So what did they have to say?
“There was no interest in forest certification, until PEFC came to our country,” said June Alvarez from the Philippine Center for Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development.

“Since then, we have led an education campaign, started drafting our national system and begun the creation of a national governing body – all with the assistance of PEFC International.”
“PEFC supports the development of national systems, ensuring that the concerns of the country are taken into account,” said Hugues Ekani, on behalf of PAFC Congo.

“It is for this reason that the Congolese government is supporting the development of PEFC in the country.”

Others took the opportunity to highlight their progress towards PEFC certification.
“Within the next two years we hope to have a national system and a national governing body in place,” said Ghan Shyam Pandey from Green Foundation Nepal.

“In two years we might even have the highest PEFC-certified forest in the world!”

While for some, just being at PEFC Week was a great opportunity.
“I am very glad to be here to learn and get experience from the old and new members – from the whole PEFC family!” said So Lorn, from the Forestry Administration of Cambodia.

“I hope that PEFC will support Cambodia as we develop our national forest certification system.”
more at:  http://pefc.org/news-a-media/general-sfm-news/2308-the-future-is-brighter-than-ever-for-pefc-s-global-reach

Related Posts

McDonald’s ditches plastic straws

As of September, plastic straws will be replaced by sustainable and biodegradable paper alternatives in all McDonald’s UK and Ireland restaurants. The restaurant chain uses 1.8 million straws a day in the UK. The decision follows a successful trial in a number of McDonald’s UK restaurants to test how customers react to the switch to paper straws. Transcend Packaging in Wales, and Huhtamaki in Belfast, will supply the paper straws for all 1,361 McDonald’s restaurants. Click Read More below for additional information.

Latest Report Reveals Paper Industry’s Environmental Perception Problems

Results of the 2023 study show clearly that, whilst paper retains its place as a vital communication and packaging material, there remain misconceptions about the environmental impact of the paper industry. The 2023 study found that consumers still perceive forests are decreasing in size, with 60% believing European forests are shrinking, although this number has improved since 2021 from 64%. The number of consumers who understand European forests are actually growing in size has improved to 15% in 2023 compared to 10% in 2021. It shows that consumers are becoming more aware of these facts within the myths that surround the paper industry. The truth is, European forests are growing in size and between 2005 and 2020, grew by an impressive 58,390km² – an area larger than Switzerland and the equivalent to 1,500 football pitches of forest growth every day.[1]

PEFC Webinar: Certified paper packaging and the circular economy

As the world faces up to the climate emergency, urgent action is required if we are to reduce our individual and collective environmental impact. Packaging has an important role to play. The environmental impacts of plastic packaging are well known. 40% of plastic produced is for packaging, while plastic packaging accounts for 50% of plastic waste. Answers must be found to boost the production and use of sustainable packaging, with renewable and recyclable solutions increasingly in demand. A 2020 Two Sides Survey on European Packaging Preferences found that paperboard packaging is favoured by consumers as being better for the environment and considered easier to recycle and home compost. Increasing the use of sustainable, certified forest-based packaging has huge potential to not only help companies meet sustainability targets, but also have a positive impact on the world’s forests and the communities that depend upon them.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search