Breathe! Feel! Look! These are things we all have to do! There are some which are optional..., says Alexandr Alexandrov MSc, managing director of Hranipex. "Why do we do them? Why have you decided to read this article? Keep reading until the end and you’ll understand."

There is a better way to start a new year than with good news for every living thing on this planet. Hranipex Ltd and the subsidiaries of Hranipex Group have introduced an FSC strategy including FSC certification for all relevant products.

FSC certification is a very trustworthy system which consists of forest certification and a chain of certificated customers worldwide. Thanks to high social and ecological standards, FSC has attracted the support of the biggest environmental orgainsations, such as WWF, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth as well as the biggest supply chains and melamine board producers.

The market includes FSC-certificated children’s toys, household domestic furniture, melamine furniture, garden furniture as well as books and magazines, thanks to a big expansion of FSC paper.

Forest certification by FSC systems guarantees that the wood from certificated forests is treated according to FSC standards. This makes sure FSC wood is separated from other wood of untrustworthy sources.

Hranipex, as a producer of melamine edges and veneer edges, is now  part of chain of custody as well. Only by this chain can producers, sellers and the public guarantee the final product comes from FSC-certificated forests.

In reality, it means that every producer (melamine, board, edging etc) can have an FSC certificate. This would give the final customer a 100% assurance buying a product from carefully managed forests.

For Hranipex – which match many melamine boards like Kronospan, Finsa, Egger, etc – It is very important to support such responsible behaviour.

It shows that companies of all sizes – Hranipex was only 6 sq m when starting life in a garage in 1993 but nowe extends to 20,000m2 – can grow successfully but still maintain their principles of being environment friendly.

Alexandr Alexandrov MSc, managing director of Hranipex, says: “When we first had the opportunity to join the FSC system, our chairman, Mr Zdenek Ryzner, listened to our proposal.

“We did not waste a minute and turned our idea into a succesful conclusion by obtaining FSC certification.

“Of course, we had a choice, but I am happy to prove to all of our customers that we did it without any hesitation. And with one breath, I would like to promise to our customers we will continue with the strategy and support all activities that leads to a better environment.”

So why is it so important to be certified? Alexandr says: "For employees of the company, it is very important that they can see Hranipex is – as a supplier of melamine edges, and veneer edges – responsible for the environment. It is the employees and the employees’  children that benefit. Nobody wants to be a part of cutting down rain forests and killing the natural face of the earth which is now happening in many parts of the world, especially in Brazil. Every year we lose an area that is twice the size of the Czech Republic!

“Now everybody can, together, support their own company by producing, selling and buying products which are FSC certificated. The industry can support both sides of the coin by spending one. I am proud the idea came from the UK subsidiary and was fully supported. And as we are now under an FSC flag – let me present the Hranipex certification numbers as follows: Certificate Registration Code: RA-COC-007080

“Please do not hesitate to support our effort saving forests as well as by ordering FSC products if you can. Or ask for more details fromour staff who are fully trained in the FSC system.”