Huhtamaki expands FSC certifications

Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Europe, which manufactures packaging material such as egg cartons, fruit trays and cup carriers, has expanded its Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (CoC) certification to include its European operations. The company says the certification was driven by its policy of sourcing 100 percent recycled fiber from pre- and post-consumer sources, including its own used products.

SCS Global Services (SCS), a global third-party certification body, assessed Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Europe's 10 sites, covering operations in The Netherlands, France, Northern Ireland and The Czech Republic, to confirm conformance to the FSC Reclaimed Standard for recycled sources.

“Huhtamaki's recycling policy represents a sound and progressive business strategy that helps reduce pressure on forested environments," says Robert Hrubes, SCS’ executive vice president. "Sourcing post-consumer recycled fiber means that Huhtamaki can utilize its own products, post use, as a feedstock: a truly closed-loop system.”

Huhtamaki says it began its commitment to using pre- and post-consumer recycled fiber in 2012 with a multi-site FSC Reclaimed certification covering its Netherlands operations. The decision to expand FSC certification to all European sites means that Huhtamaki is now manufacturing all its packaging products in part from waste collected from households across Europe.

“We are working in close partnership with municipalities and waste collectors throughout Europe to reclaim our used packaging waste, helping to lighten the load on landfills while saving resources,” says Annalien Hanje, FSC Coordinator of Huhtamaki Molded Fiber Europe.