Diamond Receives Forest Stewardship Council Certification from the Rainforest Alliance

Rochester, NY, May 29, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Diamond Packaging has earned Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody certification from the Rainforest Alliance’s SmartWood program. This certification reflects a growing trend in the paper and printing industry of companies making more environmentally and socially responsible supply chain decisions.

The FSC is the global standard-setter in responsible forest management. Chain-of-Custody certification guarantees that wood that comes from certified, responsibly managed forestlands is tracked throughout the supply chain, from the forest to the consumer. Conscientious consumers can look for the FSC logo on wood products to know they are supporting forest management that protects biodiversity and supports local communities.

"FSC certification demonstrates our continued commitment to environmental responsibility," said Dennis Bacchetta, director of marketing at Diamond Packaging. "By utilizing paperboard sourced from responsibly managed forests, we can help businesses empower consumers to make more sustainable choices.”

FSC certification is an extension of Diamond’s greenbox initiative, the company’s commitment to research, design, and implement packaging solutions that are innovative and sustainable. The initiative balances business with environmental considerations by promoting sustainability in all aspects of package production.

The core of Diamond’s greenbox initiative – designs, materials, and methods – represents a comprehensive approach to packaging that minimizes environmental impact throughout the supply chain.

"We are very pleased to award FSC certification to Diamond Packaging," said Dave Bubser, U.S. region manager at SmartWood. "Diamond’s commitment to integrate core principles of social and environmental sustainability into their packaging operations, combined with the potential to put the FSC’s seal of responsibility in front of millions of consumers provides Diamond with a powerful opportunity to differentiate themselves and their customers while at the same time making a positive impact on the environment.”

About 40 percent of all commercially traded timber globally is used to produce paper, according to the FSC. And paper consumption is expected to grow by about 50 percent in the next few years. The U.S. is the biggest market for paper products globally, producing 90 million tons of paper and consuming 100 million tons of paper each year, according to the FSC.

The paper and printing industry have made big strides recently in focusing on responsible supply chain decisions. In the past few years, several hundred pulp providers, mills, merchants and printers globally have obtained FSC certification. Companies such as Nordstrom, Inc.; Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; and Limited Brands (the parent company of Victoria’s Secret) have all begun using FSC-certified paper in their catalogs and other printed materials. Also, the Rainforest Alliance worked with Scholastic Inc. on using FSC-certified paper in the initial US printing of the final Harry Potter book. At 22 million pounds, it was the largest single purchase of FSC-certified paper to date.

FSC certification ensures that forestry operations meet a set of environmental, social and economic criteria covering compliance with laws and international treaties, land-use and indigenous peoples’ rights, community relations, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of high conservation value forests, among other things.

The area of FSC-certified forestlands has nearly doubled in the past three years to a total of 276 million acres to date. This growth has opened up a burgeoning supply of certified wood products including lumber, paper, furniture and decking from responsibly managed forests. Increasing consumer interest in FSC-certified products ensures that forest operations have economic incentives to manage their lands responsibly.

The Rainforest Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization, is the world’s leading certifier of forestlands to the FSC standards. To date, the organization has certified 131 million acres of forestland. The Rainforest Alliance works with businesses in making more responsible choices by using market forces to protect our natural resources and support workers and local communities.

Since 1911, Diamond Packaging has dedicated itself to providing the highest standard of quality, innovation and cost effective packaging solutions for companies including Avon, Bausch & Lomb, Beiersdorf, Coty, Godiva Chocolatier, L’Oreal, and Procter & Gamble. As part of the Global Packaging Alliance® (GPA), Diamond and its alliance members offer packaging solutions to companies operating on an international scale. Customers receive responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled worldwide packaging support. For more information about Diamond Packaging, contact Dennis Bacchetta at (585) 334-8030 x229 or visit the website at diamondpackaging.com. For more information about Diamond’s greenbox initiative or to download a copy of the FSC certificate (SW-COC-004052), visit the sustainability microsite at diamondpackaging.com/green.

The Rainforest Alliance works to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior. For more information, visit rainforest-alliance.org. For media queries, contact Gretchen Ruethling at gruethling@ra.org or (646) 452-1939.

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