Smurfit Westrock partners with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) International to help strengthen its Chain of Custody (CoC) standard, ensuring it remains fit for today’s global packaging value chains. Through participation in FSC’s core working group, we share operational expertise and real-world insights to support periodic review and the continued development of its standards.  

Since 2024, Smurfit Westrock has actively contributed to FSC’s periodic review of the CoC standards, a formal process undertaken every three to four years. This governance engagement is critical to having open discussions about challenges, finding alternative solutions and refining the standards to ensure the CoC framework is globally applicable and fit for purpose. 

As part of the process, FSC conducted site visits to Smurfit Westrock’s Zülpich paper mill and the Rheinwelle converting site in Germany to see how recycled paper is transformed into finished packaging and how certification requirements operate in practice. This included how traceability, segregation and labeling systems function across mill-to-conversion operations.  

Engagement with site teams gave the FSC clear visibility into effective practices and the practical challenges faced by certificate holders. Insights from these discussions are informing efforts to simplify requirements, reduce administrative burden and explore digital solutions while maintaining integrity of the standards.  

Strong CoC certification is a cornerstone of Smurfit Westrock’s sustainability strategy, providing customers and investors with independent assurance that all wood fiber originates from responsibly managed sources. Through sustained engagement in FSC’s standards setting and governance processes, Smurfit Westrock supports the long‑term credibility of certified packaging free from deforestation.