Direct Group Earns FSC Certification

Direct Group, a fully integrated direct marketing solutions provider in Pennington, N.J., earned the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) chain-of-custody (COC) certification, demonstrating the company’s commitment to utilizing renewable, environmentally friendly sources of direct mail paper and printing materials.

The COC designation was conferred by Rainforest Alliance, an independent, FSC-accredited certifying organization that uses its own evaluation process to ensure compliance with FSC principles and standards. The Alliance’s SmartWood program criteria were used for initial certification, and will be used in an annual audit to ensure Direct Group’s continued compliance with FSC standards.

Direct Group’s latest green initiative ensures that its customers can select paper products that can be specifically traced through the supply chain from FSC-certified forests.

“As an environmentally conscious company, we believe it is important to provide our customers with printing materials that reflect a commitment to renewable natural resources,” said Don McKenzie, Direct Group president and CEO.

In order to receive its COC certification, Direct Group launched a comprehensive internal study, which was immediately followed by an independent audit by Rainforest Alliance, one of only 12 FSC-accredited certifiers worldwide.

The evaluation process consisted of an audit of all steps in the supply chain, from the harvesting of trees through product delivery, and was designed to ensure that the company’s procedures met or exceeded the worldwide standards.

“For those customers that share our concern for the environment, our COC certification ensures that their desire to produce ‘green’ marketing materials can be realized every time they work with Direct Group,” said McKenzie.

In addition to COC certification, other Direct Group recycling and green programs include the installation of more than 340 energy-efficient fluorescent lamps at the company’s largest mail production facility in Swedesboro, N.J., as well as the company-wide recycling of paper, corrugated, plastic wrap, wood pallets, and inks.