FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2007
Advance Packaging Corporation Earns Sustainable Forestry Initiative Accreditation
SFI Standards are met through environmentally responsible purchasing practices
Kentwood, MI — Advance Packaging Corporation has earned SFI Certification by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program. This allows Advance Packaging to print the SFI Certified Sourcing® label on all finished corrugated products. The certification is granted if two-thirds of a company’s packaging raw material originates from mills with certified wood procurement systems or recycled paper sources. An audit assessment has verified that 79% of raw materials purchased by Advance Packaging come from sources or participants certified to SFI standards. The quality department at Advance Packaging put their traceability tools to work and identified the source and status of every roll of raw material received in the last year. This data was compiled and submitted to a third party auditor for verification.
As a secondary producer of forest products, Advance Packaging seeks paper sources that manage their forest resources in a sustainable manner. “We expect that our percentage of certified materials will continue to increase as sustainability requirements continue to be pushed through the supply chain,” said Tom Staal, Advance Packaging’s Corporate Quality Manager.
SFI primary producers must comply with a series of principles and performance measures set forth by the SFI. Among the many are: to provide for regeneration after harvest, to protect forests from environmentally undesirable wildfire, pests, and diseases, to promote a diversity of wildlife inhabitants, and to monitor, measure and report performance to achieve sustainable forestry.
Primary objectives of Advance Packaging’s social and environmental stewardship efforts include identifying improvements in products and services that positively impact Advance Packaging customer’s corporate environmental and sustainability initiatives. Internal efforts to enhance both Advance Packaging’s and their customers’ sustainability practices have been identified and implemented organization-wide through manufacturing processes, logistics, transportation and energy conservation efforts.
About Advance Packaging Corporation
Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Advance Packaging Corporation is a leading packaging provider and one of the largest Michigan packaging suppliers. With ISO- registered and SFI-certified manufacturing facilities in Grand Rapids and Jackson, Michigan, the company designs, manufactures, and prints corrugated packaging—from standard boxes to intricate, custom-designed packaging, displays, and interior components. It also integrates foam, plastic, and other alternative materials for complete corrugated and returnable packaging solutions. The company currently serves customers in the manufacturing, industrial, retail, distribution, furniture, pharmaceuticals, publishing, electronics, and food industries.
Media Information
Interviews are available with officials of Advance Packaging Corporation.
Please contact Johanna Yepez at Advance Packaging Corporation, 616.949.6610 or to arrange an interview or request additional information. For more information on Advance Packaging, please go to www.advancepkg.com.
