Chain of Custody Certification

Process Segregation

Different input streams require distinct physical handling or accounting methodologies to maintain integrity before the final conversion into paper stock. Organizations choose between a percentage-based system or a physical separation method depending on the operational capabilities of the mill. Percentage systems calculate the volume of certified output by applying a verified ratio to the total mass of materials handled during a defined production period.

Credit systems allow a plant to accumulate volume allowances based on certified intake and allocate those credits to specific sales invoices at a later time. Segregation methods require the total physical isolation of certified fibre from all other sources throughout the entire cycle. Physical isolation demands dedicated silos and clean-out cycles for machinery to avoid cross-contamination of fibre batches.

Compliance Threshold

Contractual agreements in procurement depend on the precise identification of the source material stated on delivery dockets and shipping documentation. Documentation provides the evidence needed to back claims regarding the environmental credentials of packaging products. Purchasers verify that the certificates provided by their suppliers cover the specific grade and format of the material received.

Failure to demonstrate a clear line of documentation from the forest floor to the final printing facility voids the value of the environmental claim. Each participant in the commercial distribution channel shares the responsibility for maintaining the veracity of the ledger for the goods they handle. Valid verification establishes a traceable link from the final point of sale back to the primary source of the raw material.