Verification of Supply Chain Certificate Validity and Scope Schedules
Verify certificate status against public scope schedules to ensure product group codes, grammages, and converting sites explicitly cover every delivered batch.
Scope Schedules
Official Certification
Official certification documents list the specific paperboard grades, converting activities, and facility locations covered under a chain of custody audit. The scope schedules attached to a company’s certificate define the boundaries of what they can legally sell as certified material. This document governs the commercial offerings of paper merchants and folding carton plants, stating whether they are certified for transfer, percentage, or credit accounting methods.
It applies to every certified entity in the paperboard supply chain, establishing their authorized activities and product groups.
Material Coverage
A printer must consult these schedules to ensure that their supplier is certified to handle the specific boards required for a project. If a mill’s schedule lists only unbleached paperboard, they cannot supply certified bleached board for high-end cosmetics boxes. The document also lists the address of every warehouse and factory that has been audited and approved to handle the certified stock.
This details-focused listing prevents uncertified branches of a multi-site company from trading certified products. It ensures that the chain of custody remains unbroken from the certified forest through to the final retail shelf.
Risk Reduction
Clear schedules prevent misunderstandings between packaging buyers and their converting partners. They provide an auditable record that can be checked by third-party certification bodies during annual inspections. This documentation supports the integrity of the labeling process, allowing brands to print environmental logos with confidence.