The STI Group's German facilities, the factories in Australia, the UK, Poland and Hungary and its European distribution subsidiary in France are all FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified

The plants in Australia, the UK, Hungary and Greven (Germany) have received PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) certification as well.

Sustainable use of resources is of growing importance. In the packaging and display field, this means that companies and consumers are attaching more and more importance to ecologically sound solutions. The STI Group has become one of the first companies in Europe to receive the FSC seal, specifically for the group's German production facilities and European distribution arms.

FSC stands for "Forest Stewardship Council". When the FSC label is printed on a product, it confirms that the product was created in a manner that promotes sustainable forest management – that is, ecologically, socially and economically compatible. This certification of the product chain provides a guarantee to the consumer that wood products with the FSC logo really do come from a certified and responsibly managed forestry business. Companies who use FSC-certified material thus have the opportunity to document the responsibility of their actions.

PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes) is another internationally oriented standard in pursuit of a single goal: the global improvement of forest usage and maintenance.

"Top international branded goods manufacturers have already made the decision to feature the FSC standard on their packaging and displays," says Prof. Dr. Frank Ohle, CEO of the STI Group. For Ohle the use of recycled material or paper from sustainable forestry is only one link in the chain. "The cornerstone for ecologically sound packaging is laid in the product development," he believes. With the support of the most up-to-date CAD technology, the group's more than 100 developers have the chance to reduce and optimise the amount of packing material being used, while taking into consideration the whole value chain. This includes for example optimal utilisation of pallet surfaces and the cargo space on lorries as well as the use of papers with lower grammage. "The conservation of natural resources is - just like social responsibility – a key part of our company philosophy", according to Ohle.