Smurfit Kappa Recapitulates Commitment to Sustainable Forest Practices

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Smurfit Kappa Group plc- Europe’s leading corrugated packaging company has reiterated its commitment to sustainable forest practices on International Day of Forests. Celebrating the occasion on March 21^st, the company repeated its pledge to sustainable sourcing policy in order to ensure that all wood supplies to its mills meets the highest sustainability standards.

According to company press release, its wood supplies come from managed forests. Incidentally, Smurfit Kappa manages forest holdings in several countries by planting close to 3.5 million trees every year. The wood is derived from three main sources- mature treetops and branches; forestry thinnings and sawmill waste.

Steven Stoffer, VP Development, Smurfit Kappa Group stated that the company has been constantly looking at new ways to boost sustainable practices in wood sourcing over the past several years. For instance, the company has selected high quality trees to create hybrids, in an attempt to improve the pine and eucalyptus species in Colombia. The phytosanitary protection programme to keep its plantations healthy has won prestigious recognition from the country’s government, Stoffer noted.

Smurfit Kappa’s forests have been successful in absorbing nearly 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Apart from that, it offers jobs to approximately 3,000 people. The forests managed by the company are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).