KapStone Charleston Upgrades SFI Fiber Sourcing Certification

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KapStone Charleston Kraft, North Charleston, S.C., USA, a producer of unbleached kraft paper and lumber, has upgraded its SFI fiber sourcing certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative SFI 2010-2014 Standard across its five chip mills, Summerville Lumber Mill, and Charleston Kraft paper mill. KapStone was previously certified to the SFI 2005-2009 fiber sourcing standard and continues its SFI certification in chain-of-custody (CoC). KapStone Charleston Kraft is wholly owned by KapStone Paper and Packaging Corp, Northbrook, Ill..

An SFI fiber sourcing label tells consumers the fiber in a product is from a legal and responsible source, regardless of whether the forest is certified. In the U.S. and Canada, there must be an auditable procurement process in place showing that, among other things, participants are supporting landowners in promoting reforestation, protecting threatened and endangered species, and strengthening best management practices to protect water quality. When sourcing fiber from outside of North America, program participants must perform risk assessments to avoid controversial sources such as illegal harvesting operations or areas of civil unrest, and must promote the conservation of biological diversity.

KapStone Kraft Paper Corp. operates paper mills in Roanoke Rapids, N.C., and North Charleston, S.C., a lumber mill in Summerville, S.C., and five chip mills in South Carolina. The business employs approximately 1,550 people.