Formica Group obtains Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody Certification

Formica Group, a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of surfacing material, has been awarded the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody certification for all of its Asia operations. The certificate is issued by SGS, one of the world's leading certification bodies. With FSC certification, customers around the world can be assured that Formica High Pressure Laminate is manufactured from "responsible sources."

"Formica Group is a forward-thinking company that always considers the impact of sustainability in its business,” said Gavin Todd, Manager of Sustainability at Formica Group. “The company has implemented a five-year strategic plan in three regions: Asia, Europe and North America. One of the goals is to bring all Formica factories in line with FSC principles and criteria. Now, we are proud to announce that all Asia factories are FSC certified."

Alistair Monument, FSC Asia-Pacific Director, said: "The FSC Chain of Custody certification is an important system that enables Asian businesses to supply their products to local and worldwide consumers, verifying the product is manufactured from responsible sources. Consumer demand for FSC certified products helps to promote environmentally sound and economically prosperous management of the world's forests. The Forest Stewardship Council FSC Chain of Custody certification is an important milestone for Formica Group in China, Thailand, Taiwan, Europe and North America."

FSC Chain of Custody certification tracks FSC certified material through the production processes verified by the Forest Stewardship Council, including processing, distribution and sale of certified goods.

“Chain of Custody certification connects consumers with healthy forests by tracking the FSC certified materials from the forest to the consumers,” said Sasha Ramirez-Hughes, FSC Marketing and Communications Manager.

The Chain of Custody certification of forest products is essential for companies wanting to enter markets where environmental and social awareness is high. It is also a great way to demonstrate compliance with public and private sector procurement policies that specify environmentally responsible materials, such as the EU Eco-label and US Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). 

Ramirez Hughes also said: “The importance of this certification is recognised globally. We welcome companies like Formica Group to be a part of these certification systems."

Sustainability is more than a goal for Formica Group; it is a cornerstone of the company’s operations. As a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of innovative surface finishing products, Formica Group strives to meet customers’ evolving requirements for sustainability. 

As part of its commitment to reducing environmental impact, Formica Group's operations around the world have adopted a sustainable model that meets the standards set by the Green Building Council and promotes the surface finishing materials industry to a higher standard internationally.

The company has conducted a Product Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that benchmarked existing processes to record and study its carbon footprint.

Formica Group conducts LCA in its ten plants around the world and evaluates the environmental impact of the products in terms of energy use, water, waste, and greenhouse gas emissions. The assessment was conducted by an independent third-party sustainability consultant based in London, in accordance with the internationally accepted ISO 14040 series.

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The FSC CoC certificate is issued by SGS for decorative surfacing panels, including procurement, processing, sales and distribution of related outsourced products. Formica Group has obtained FSC certification and meets FSC requirements. 

Taiwan:
FSC License Code: FSC-C110491
Certificate code: SGSHK-COC-010367 & SGSHK-CW-010367

China:
FSC License Code:  FSC-C111021
Certificate code: SGSHK-COC-010413 & SGSHK-CW-010413

Thailand:
FSC License Code:  FSC-C111163
Certificate code: SGS-COC-009413 & SGS-CW-009413