Antalis sets up environmental briefings to promote FSC accreditation

Antalis has said it will run more environmental briefings over the next few months to inform customers on how Chain of Custody certification can benefit a business.

In conjunction with auditors BM Trada, the Leicester-based paper merchant said the briefings would highlight why certification is important and what is needed to achieve it.

Antalis environment manager Matthew Botfield said the paper industry is caught in the middle of a storm of opinions with environmental Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and independent environmentalists.

"Our government presently advocates the use of paper made from recycled paper on their procurement framework," he said.

"This cannot be sustained when no new pulp de-inking mills are being built and some of the ones we have are being forced to close."

Botfield said despite the differences of opinion, there is mutual agreement from all sides.

He said: "That is that the paper and timber products that are FSC- or PEFC-certified are the best way of ensuring the wood used is from well managed forests."

So far, the merchant has booked venues for its environmental briefings between 16 October to 3 December in Newcastle, Belfast, Nottingham, Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Cardiff and Swindon.