Focus on

On 13 July 2009, following several months of research, planning and preparation, one of the largest commercial printing firms in the south of England, Bishops Printers, achieved certification under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation that provides standard setting, trademark assurance and certification services for companies interested in responsible forestry.

Formally established in 1994, the FSC standard provides an independently audited chain of custody. Suppliers and customers can be sure that Bishops is using products sourced from well-managed, sustainable forests.

Moreover, certification to FSC helps differentiate Bishops from its competitors. In a crowded market of about 10,000 to 13,000 printers in the UK, an estimated 7% or 700 printers have attained FSC certification. Achieving the standard brings kudos and a perception of added value to the brand.

“It’s the biggest initiative for us in recent years and we’re proud to be a part of it,” says Ben Adcock, Marketing Manager for Bishops Printers.

“The standard shows we have undergone a rigorous process. Many of our customers now expect to see the FSC logo and we anticipate this achievement will bring in more work from the public sector and other organisations.”

In addition to FSC certification, being the largest printer in the Portsmouth area is a responsibility that Bishops takes very seriously. Environment-friendly processes are high on their agenda--all waste materials are recycled, including aluminum plates, metal ink tins and plastic ink cartridges, plus the ink itself, paper, cardboard and even the wood from pallets.

SGS FSC Lead Auditor Trainer Peter Brown adds: “Bishops was extremely well-prepared and the company was a pleasure to audit. The decision to source sustainable materials further demonstrates Bishops’ commitment to the environment. Furthermore, the FSC logo is being recognised more and more by consumers, and the demand for products from sustainable sources is growing daily.”

For more information on SGS Forest Certification Services, please contact:

SGS United Kingdom Ltd
SGS House
217-221 London Road
Camberley
GU15 3EY
t: 01276 697999
f: 01276 697696
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The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as the global benchmark in quality and integrity. With more than 56,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.