WWF highlights improvements in greeting card industry as a whole in its Timber Scorecard
The GCA and greeting card industry as a whole received a positive thumbs up in the latest WWF Timber Scorecard Report – an biennial report that scores businesses on the visibility of their timber (paper in the case of cards) sourcing policies and the steps they’ve taken to improve their performance.
The GCA receives a great write up in the Trade Association section (page 40), and is one of only seven trading associations highlighted, with the report stating:
‘The Greeting Card Association with its Paper Sourcing Guidance has produced a simple and easily accessible three-page guide to sourcing sustainable boards with recommendations, tips and suggested statements for drafting a paper sourcing policy. It has also made some clear recommendations to card publishers on where they can make a real difference, including good housekeeping that promotes cost saving measures. Helpfully, its Paper Sourcing Model includes suggested wording such as “we undertake to ensure 100% of our products will be sourced either from FSC or PEFC certified, or recycled materials, by 2020”, in line with WWF’s forest campaign call to action.’
Sharon Little, ceo of the GCA commented on the report: “I’m delighted that the hard work that the GCA and our industry have done on this has been recognised by WWF. The huge majority of cards produced in the UK are covered under certified chain of custody schemes and a number of member companies have moved up WWF’s Timber Scorecard, which is a measure of the visibility of timber/paper sourcing policies on company websites.”
The industry was singled out in the analysis as well:
‘The greeting card manufacturers have improved as a group this year, with both IG Design Group (previously International Greetings) and UK Greetings scoring 3 trees [the highest rating].
Hallmark Cards slipped back: long-term technical problems with its website appeared to hamper its ability to provide any public information in the review period. Both Clinton Cards and The Great British Card Company scored 1 tree.’
Both Clintons and The Great British Card Company improved from 0 trees [the lowest rating], while Hallmark slipped back to 2 trees [from 3 last year].
