Pepco Poland Sp. z o.o., as the first Polish company, has signed an international license agreement (N003956) with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) – the most credible organization in the world creating a forest certification system and the only one supported by major environmental organizations such as WWF. Thanks to this, the company will be able to use FSC trademarks to promote certified products offered to customers. This is another very important step on Pepco's path to sustainable development.

Currently, over 130 Pepco products have the FSC certificate – these are mainly wooden toys for children, stationery and writing supplies, gift bags, napkins, party accessories (hats, cups, plates, straws), wooden cutlery, and cardboard boxes from the "home" category. Additionally, over 300 have certified packaging. Pepco's packaging policy assumes a consistent increase in the number of such packaging – this applies to both collective cartons and boxes that the customer takes home. The company also aims to reduce the amount of cardboard used in transport cartons and their size. It is worth noting that product tags, mainly in the categories: baby items, hair accessories, light bulb packaging, stationery, and clothing, as well as header cards used by employees, are made from 100% FSC-certified cardboard.

– Our environmental goal is to limit the impact of the company's operations on the planet, as well as to provide customers with the opportunity to choose sustainable products at attractive prices wherever Pepco stores operate. Certificates granted by independent organizations confirm that a given item has been produced with respect for the environment, from natural materials, or is recyclable or suitable for recycling. The FSC certificate is a prime example – it is proof that the raw material comes from responsibly managed forests or, as in the case of many cardboard products, from other controlled sources, such as recycling. We still have a lot of work to do in the environmental area, but we are setting ambitious goals. For example, in the coming years, we want to double the number of more sustainable products in our assortment – says Katarzyna Wilczewska, Corporate Communications Manager at Pepco.

– Market research shows that consumers increasingly care about ecological products sourced responsibly. We see that businesses are responding to this demand – and Pepco is a perfect example of this. Thanks to the license agreement, the company will be able to better promote products with the FSC label, thereby encouraging its customers to make more responsible purchasing choices. I hope that Pepco's example will inspire other entities on the Polish market to increase their efforts to protect forests – commented Karolina Tymorek, FSC Director in Poland.

Pepco also offers products with other international certificates confirming that the items meet specific standards. Examples include OEKO-TEX certificates (an independent textile safety mark that checks them for the presence of harmful chemical substances) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – a standard that defines restrictions on the origin of yarn, chemicals used in the production process, and includes verification of social and environmental standards. Products with the following labels are also noteworthy:

• Organic Content Standard – informs about the content of organic fibers in non-food products;

• Global Recycled Standard – products marked with this logo must contain at least 50% recycled raw materials;

• Recycled Claim Standard – RCS certification applies to any product that contains at least 5% recycled fibers;

• Vegan – the certificate covers food, industrial, and cosmetic products. This confirms that the offered products do not contain ingredients of animal origin;

• TÜV Rheinland Certified and INTERTEK – international quality marks awarded based on product verification for meeting specific requirements for safety, durability, functionality, strength, and usability of products.

Pepco consistently expands its range of certified, sustainable products. Soon, customers will find more items from the environmentally friendly collection on the shelves.