Pratt Industries, the world's largest privately owned manufacturer of 100 percent recycled containerboard and corrugated packaging materials, said it received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) recycled chain-of-custody certification for its three U.S. paper mills. FSC is an independent non-profit organization that established a certification system to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests. Chain of custody certification provides the assurance that Pratt Industries is maintaining a control system that tracks the material it sources to the end consumer, through all stages of transportation, manufacturing and final distribution.

Pratt Industries, America’s fifth-largest box manufacturer, noted that FSC recognizes recycled content for a few key reasons:

• The vast majority of “recycled” products have no verification associated with them. FSC provides the highest rigor in verification.
• Improved recycling of post-consumer fiber helps keep good, useable fiber out of landfills. Improved recycling also takes pressure off of natural forests.

Pratt Industries’ FSC application process consisted of audits, site tours and interviews at the three paper mills, as well as at the company’s headquarters in Conyers, Ga. The label certifies that the recycled fiber used to make this paper comes from 100 percent recycled sources, the company said.

“With the addition of our FSC recycled certification, we have further shown the company’s commitment to sourcing transparency and promoting and growing recycling” stated David Dennis, vice president of sales and marketing for Pratt Industries.