Paperboard Food Contact Declarations and Recycled Fiber Traceability
Food contact safety for recycled board requires functional barrier proof and complete chain of custody documentation down to invoice line items.
Mass Balance Balance
Accounting Framework
The accounting framework for tracking certified and uncertified materials through a production process allows manufacturers to allocate sustainability claims to specific goods. Volume tracking in the mass balance balance ensures that the amount of certified output never exceeds the amount of certified input after accounting for conversion losses. Verified claims are produced by mixing sustainable fibres with conventional ones while maintaining a strict volume record.
Calculation Logic
Inputs of raw materials are entered into a ledger alongside the corresponding outputs of final goods and waste. This mass balance balance requires a rigorous audit trail that documents every physical movement and chemical conversion within the plant. Credit systems allow a company to sell products with a sustainable label even if the physical molecules in that specific box are not certified.
This flexibility supports the transition to sustainable sourcing without requiring separate production lines for every grade.
Verification Limit
Chain of custody standards define the rules for how credits can be transferred between different sites or product groups. The mass balance balance loses its validity if the physical link between the certified source and the production facility is broken. Accurate records of moisture content and trim waste must be maintained to ensure the conversion factors used in the calculations are realistic.