Recycled Content Declarations a Retailer Will Actually Accept
Retailers accept recycled content claims backed by lot-specific chain of custody transaction certificates, valid scope codes, and verified migration test reports.
PEFC Recycled
Certification Claim
Verification labels indicate that the wood based components of a product originate from recycled sources that meet the standards of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. The pefc recycled designation requires that at least seventy percent of the material comes from post-consumer or pre-consumer reclaimed sources. This claim provides assurance to the buyer that the fibers have been diverted from the waste stream.
It is used extensively for paperboard packaging and office supplies.
Sourcing Rule
Reclaimed material must be clearly identified and separated from virgin material unless a mass balance system is in place. Post-consumer sources include items like used corrugated boxes or newspapers that have been discarded by households. Pre-consumer sources might include manufacturing scrap or overstock that never reached the end user.
The certification process tracks these materials from the point of collection through the pulping and converting stages. Each entity in the supply chain must hold a valid chain of custody certificate to pass the claim to the next buyer. Records must show the physical movement of the fiber between facilities.
Visual Identification
The label on the packaging must include the specific logo and the unique license number of the company making the claim. This allows any stakeholder to verify the validity of the certificate through the global database.