Antalis, the leading European distributor of paper, packaging and visual communication solutions, has reinforced its strong commitment to sustainability by joining the Act4nature biodiversity initiative.
The initiative, which was launched on 10 July 2018, follows the French Government’s recent announcement of its Biodiversity Plan and unites 60 companies in their shared commitment to protect and restore biodiversity. For Antalis, this voluntary pledge is in addition to the group’s existing policy of integrating biodiversity into its corporate social responsibility and comes as the company reveals it is on track to cover 85% of its supply with a responsible traceability process by 2020.
This commitment is in-line with Biodiversity 2020, the national strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services, and forms part of the group’s existing policy of integrating biodiversity into its corporate social responsibility.
Antalis relies heavily on natural resources, whether directly from forestry through raw materials, or indirectly via energy and water consumption. Recognising that 80% of the world’s biodiversity lives within forest areas, one of the business’ key priorities within its CSR agenda is to ensure responsible sourcing of its products and favouring more responsible supply, thus encouraging the circular economy.
Matthew Botfield, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Antalis, comments: “Antalis has prioritised the traceability of its products for a long time. Thanks to our Antrak platform, we have 50,000 pieces of information available which enables us to accurately trace our supply chain.”
In committing to cover 85% of its supply with a responsible traceability process by 2020, this means more specifically that Antalis is working to:
Achieve its goal of 85% of supplies coming from FSC or PEFC certified fibrous products and/or recycled products, therefore guaranteeing the preservation of biodiversity thanks to early forest management (figure currently at 74%)
Promote the consumption of recycled paper by highlighting the Green Star System
Guarantee, through its Antrak platform, the complete traceability and sustainability of 85% of fibrous goods, thanks to the integration of a due diligence (since 2013) which is based on the list of endangered species from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Transparently report on its impact and achievements in terms of biodiversity
Matthew Botfield concludes: “It comes as no surprise that customers are increasingly demanding in terms of environmental guarantees. NGOs’ campaigns on deforestation have not only challenged the way companies produce, but also how clients consume. We strive for exemplarity throughout the value chain: from the forest to our clients’ printers. Therefore, traceability is not only about enhancing the image of Antalis; it is also about creating value for all our clients and end-users.”
