MPG Biddles is one of a handful of printers in the UK to have the prestigious FSC and PEFC accreditation.

FSC is the Forest Stewardship Council’s prestigious ‘Chain of Custody’ certification which promotes responsible forestry and implements a system that traces products back to their forest of origin. Certified companies are required to monitor supply chain conditions and integrate review procedures into their production operations.

PEFC is the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification ‘Chain of Custody certification, launched in June 1999; they certify timber and paper products to ensure they derive from responsibly managed forests, aiming to achieve compatibility between international forest certification schemes.

These certifications allow MPG Biddles to use the internationally-recognised FSC and PEFC logo’s on products printed on FSC and PEFC certified papers, and further widen the range of options available to customers requesting green print.

FSC and PEFC certified forests are managed to ensure long term timber supplies while protecting the environment and the lives of forest-dependent peoples.

FAQ's about FSC and PEFC

What does the FSC label mean?

The FSC ’tick tree’ logo on the label is your assurance that the product is made with, or contains, wood that comes from FSC-certified forests. It enables consumers to choose wood-based products with the confidence that they are not contributing to the destruction of the world's forests and, by buying from certified sources, they are providing a further incentive in the marketplace for good forestry practice.

Below is an example of what the FSC logo would like look on the title verso page if your book was printed on an FSC certified paper:

If you would like to use the above logo in your project then please ask your customer services executive and they will arrange for it to be sent to you.

Below is an example of what the PEFC logo would like look on the title verso page if your book was printed on an PEFC certified paper:

The above logo can be downloaded here as a tiff file for use in a title that we are producing for you on PEFC certified paper. Please right click on the WinZip or Stuffit icons to download the file.

What does the PEFC label mean?

The PEFC logo on the label allows you to be confident about your raw material sourcing, that the fibre used and the products purchased originate from legal and sustainable sources Certification provides a fully audited and verifiable supply chain from forest to end use.

What does FSC stand for?

Forest Stewardship Council. The FSC is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organisation. It is an association of members from environmental and social groups, the timber trade and the forestry profession, community forestry groups and other organisations from around the world. FSC runs a global forest certification system that includes two key aspects: Forest Management and Chain of Custody certification. This ensures that timber produced in certified forests has been traced from the forest to the end user.

What does PEFC stand for?

Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. The PEFC is a global umbrella organisation for the assessment and mutual recognition of national forest certification schemes that a developed through a multi-stakeholder process. This process, respects the principle of subsidiary, which means that although national schemes remain independent, they co-operate with each other under the PEFC umbrella. This ensures the wood products emanating from each scheme meet equivalent standards and can therefore be traded internationally.

How does the FSC system work?

Forests are inspected and certified against strict standards by independent organisations, accredited by the FSC. To gain certification, a forest must be managed in an environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable manner.

How does the PEFC system work?

Forest certification – what is it? An assessment from an independent, qualified and accredited expert who verifies in writing that the forest management practices comply with a series of collectively agreed performance standards for sustainability.

Chain of Custody certification – what is it? As assessment from an independent, qualified and accredited expert who verifies in writing that the wood flow accounting system, applied by an enterprise to trace the flow of wood from certified forests through the enterprise, meets the exacting requirements of the certification scheme.

Sustainable forest management – what does it mean? The common definition of sustainable forest management agreed by the Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forest in Europe 1993 is: “the stewardship and use of forest and forest lands 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, nation and global levels, and that does not cause damage to other ecosystems.”

What is chain of custody?

In addition to forest certification, the FSC and PEFC systems include a certified ‘chain of custody’ that tracks the timber or wood fibre through every stage in the supply chain from the forest to the final user. This is monitored through the invoicing process and the final label on the product has a code that confirms that the item is genuinely FSC or PEFC.

Which products carry the FSC label?

Paper is only one of many – the FSC label is currently found on more than 10,000 product lines in the UK alone. These include garden furniture, decking, sheds, conservatories, tools, bird boxes and bird tables, kitchen, bathroom and general housewares, brushes, wall paper, flooring, doors, shelves, furniture, toilet tissue, paper, pencils and even charcoal.

How can I say my publication is printed on FSC or PEFC certified paper?

Making a claim about the paper something is printed on is exactly the same as sticking a label with the FSC logo on a desk. The final publication might be a commercial product like a newspaper or book, a company environment report or a simple flyer. Even if the publication is printed on FSC paper, however, the printing of the claim – i.e. any use of the FSC Trademarks (the name Forest Stewardship Council, the acronym, FSC, or the tick-tree logo) – must be done under a verified chain of custody by an FSC-certified printer, like MPG Biddles.

What makes MPG Biddles FSC and PEFC certified?

To achieve certification MPG Biddles has been independently audited by BM TRADA Certification Ltd, to ensure that throughout the print operation the company will be able to identify what paper has been used. If the customer specifies FSC or PEFC paper then only FSC or PEFC paper will go through the press. BM TRADA will carry out an annual audit of the company to ensure that the highest standards are maintained.

Where can I find out more?

For further information please visit www.fsc.organd www.pefc.co.uk