The ceremony to mark the launch-to-market of the first copier paper to bear the logos of both the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and Chinese Forestry Certification Council (CFCC), was held by Asia Symbol in Beijing, China on 3 June 2015. This is the first paper to be launched with the combined logos since the China Forest Certification System (CFCS) achieved the PEFC endorsement in 2014.

"China has finally produced paper products that carry a 'green passport' to the world market, and this is a good example for the promotion of sustainable forest management in the China’s paper industry.” said Mr. Wang Wei, Chairman of CFCC and Deputy Director General of the Center of Science and Technology Development, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) of China.

CFCS was endorsed by the PEFC General Assembly in February 2014 after demonstrating compliance with PEFC’s globally recognized Sustainability Benchmarks, an endorsement recognized by up to 40 countries including USA, UK and France. Companies that are certified by CFCC are able to affix the logos of both the CFCC and PEFC on their products. This means that these products are sourced from sustainable forests, and the Chain-of-Custody (CoC) certification means that all products are traceable to verifiable points of origin.

Asia Symbol has obtained the PEFC and CFCC’s CoC certification in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Two-thirds of the copier paper produced by Asia Symbol is sold domestically while the remaining is exported. Increasingly, customers not only are concerned about quality and price, but they are becoming more environmentally responsible and seek to use paper sourced from sustainably managed forests. Having both the CFCC and PEFC certification is evidence of Asia Symbol’s efforts to promote sustainable forest management, and will help the company to enter the high-end user market, gaining customer recognition and support. As more paper companies in China embark on the road to sustainable development, and exhibit social responsibility through sustainable forest management, the world is bound to have a new understanding of Chinese companies.

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