The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) has released a new outreach video, 'Forests Matter', to promote the values and benefits of responsibly-sourced forest products. The new video highlights the facts that globally some 1.6billion people rely on forests, and that 2 out of 3 land species live in them. Forests need to be sustainably managed so that they can continue to provide a wide range of benefits for future generations.

In the video, PEFC underlines the fact that it promotes sustainable forest management practices, based on a local stakeholder approach, and uses independent third-party certification and accreditation. PEFC connects forests to the marketplace, helping businesses and companies to provide transparency and reassurance to consumers in their product offerings, with thousands of companies around the world now producing, buying using PEFC-certified products.

Stocking and selling PEFC- certified products helps companies meet consumer expectations while helping to secure future supplies of responsibly-sourced products. PEFC's first global consumer survey clearly demonstrated that there is growing demand for more environmental information to be displayed on packaging to help consumers make informed choices. 54% of consumers said that they trusted environmental labels that are displayed on their packaging. It also demonstrated that Consumers want companies to label with more than 80% of respondents wanting to see companies sourcing certified material from sustainably managed forests to use a certification label on product.

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PEFC, as the world's leading forest certification system, has certified more than 260 million hectares of forests to PEFC's internationally recognised Sustainability Benchmarks, supplying more than 16,000 Chain of Custody certified companies with responsibly sourced timber and wood products, such as those used in producing fibre-based paper products such as packaging. Today, more and more companies from SMEs to global brands are keen to demonstrate that the fibre they use in their materials comes from a certified sustainable source. This is important as consumers are increasingly conscious of the impact of their purchasing decisions.  PEFC has been working hard with stakeholders to spread the message of sustainable forest management, in order to support and  promote the expansion of forest certification and help to grow the demand for certified forest products.

This includes organisations such as the Consumer Goods Forum, who have recognised PEFC certified products as providing companies with verification of legality and providing a low risk of controversial sources which contribute to deforestation. The CGF brings together more than 400 retailers, manufacturers, service providers and other stakeholders, with members including global players such as Coca Cola, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg's, L'Oréal, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, Tesco and Asda-Walmart.

Commenting on new outreach video, Alun Watkins, who heads up PEFC in the UK said: "We have developed this new communications tool to provide a snapshot of the PEFC programme; what it involves, why it matters and what compapies can do to help secure a future for the world's forests."

For more information, visit www.pefc.co.uk