FSC and its assurance partner, Assurance Services International (ASI) are launching a new transaction verification (TV) loop on FSC-certified takeaway food containers. This TV loop will investigate the supply chain of paper-based takeaway food containers from producer markets in Asia to consumer markets in America, Europe, and Oceania, covering 28 countries. This is the first TV loop on FSC-certified paper products.
There is an increasing demand for fibre-based disposable packaging and wooden cutlery in the food industry across the world. Over the past three years, ASI has found evidence of potential prevalence of fraudulent manufacturing and trade of paper-based dinnerware coming from China. FSC analysed the information about potential false claims and took action by blocking Ningbo Yinzhou Happy Paper Products and Ningbo Yinzhou Yongshun Foreign Trade from the FSC system for making false claims.
FSC and ASI are addressing these risks to the integrity of certified takeaway food container supply chains by examining transaction data from 710 certificate holders who trade in materials and products related to paper-based food containers. These certificate holders will submit records of transactions that took place between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.
Through this TV loop, ASI will verify and analyse the sale and purchase data of certified Chinese (including Hong Kong) manufacturers and exporters, who represent the majority of certificate holders participating in this TV loop, along with their overseas importing clients.
In order to capture any potential risk associated with hidden sale or purchase of certified material, all the certified holders included in this TV loop’s scope, such as manufacturers, exporters, and suppliers, are required to report all transactions, including zero purchases and/or sales. In this TV loop, ASI will examine transactions related to all FSC-certified claims, including FSC MIX and FSC RECYCLED claims.
The preliminary results of the first phase of the TV loop, known as the TV data analysis, are expected in the beginning of 2026. Based on the findings from this phase, ASI will focus on transaction investigations into high-risk certificate holders and potential volume mismatches and fraudulent behaviour in 2026.
Source: fsc.org
