Forest certifications

Our specialty paper and nonwoven products are based on our expertise in fibers. We purchase the fibers from selected pulp producers under long term contracts based on the special features that give our products their required characteristics. To meet the demands of our plants throughout the world, we source our fibers globally. Their place of origin is extremely important to us. We want our suppliers to adhere to the same principles of economic, social and environmental responsibility as we do.

Sustainable forestry management

This is defined as “the stewardship and use of forests and forest land in a way and at a rate, that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to fulfil now and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national and global levels and does not cause damage to other ecosystems.” (Source: MCPFE, Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe)

Sustainable Forestry Management helps to fight global warming and climate change by preventing deforestation and replanting trees in the certified forests. The world’s forests are the second largest stores of CO2 next to oceans. Wood and paper products are very important carbon stores. The best mitigation for climate change is sustainable forestry management. 

Forestry certification

This is a mechanism using third party certification bodies to provide assurance that a forest is managed according to internationally recognized sustainability criteria.

The criteria are that we do not use wood from controversial sources, or any 
a) illegally harvested wood
b) wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights
c) wood harvested in forests where high conservation
  values are threatened by management activities
d)  wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations
 or non - forest use
e)  wood from forests in which genetically modified trees
 are planted.

We recognize the two main certification schemes, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) which are both independent, non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) promoting sustainably managed forests. Different circumstances concerning forest ownership are the main reasons behind their distinction.

Chain-of-custody (C-o-C) certification

It is our policy that we buy our pulp only from companies that are certified or are in the process of being certified. Over 90% of the pulp Ahlstrom buys is produced under Chain-of-Custody. This makes it possible to trace the raw material from the forest to the end product. C-o-C’s are issued by an independent, accredited certification body which verifies that the wood flow accounting system meets the requirements of the certification scheme. The certificates are valid for up to five years while surveillance audits are carried out annually. 

View Chain -of-custody certifications >

For more information, please contact us: chainofcustody@ahlstrom.com