Sofidel welcomed a delegation from FSC International and FSC Italia to its headquarters in Porcari, near Lucca, on 26 October. The visit, led by FSC International Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee and FSC Italia President Maria Rita Gallozzi, provided an opportunity to discuss the role of forest certification in the tissue industry and its contribution to responsible sourcing.
The delegation was received by Sofidel CEO Luigi Lazzareschi, Chief Operating Officer Massimiliano Vannucchi and Group Sustainability Director Riccardo Balducci. The meeting, organised as part of FSC Italia’s 25th anniversary celebrations, also included a closer look at Sofidel’s industrial and manufacturing operations.
Discussions focused in particular on how certification schemes help distributors and consumers identify products sourced responsibly, while ensuring that companies’ investments in sustainability are recognised and that competition takes place on a level playing field.
“Reliable, rigorous and credible certification schemes are essential for an industry like ours, which invests in high environmental and social standards throughout the supply chain,” said Luigi Lazzareschi. “The market must be able to distinguish concrete and verifiable commitments, so that investments in sustainability are properly valued.”
Subhra Bhattacharjee highlighted the link between everyday consumer products and responsible forest management, noting that Sofidel’s commitment to FSC certification can help strengthen responsible sourcing and encourage wider adoption of practices that protect forests.
Maria Rita Gallozzi also recognised Sofidel’s contribution to the certification system, emphasising the company’s role in promoting a vision that places forests at the centre of current and future challenges.
The visit followed Sofidel’s receipt of an award at Radici Comuni, the event held in Florence to mark FSC Italia’s 25th anniversary. The recognition acknowledged the Group’s significant contribution to promoting FSC-certified products.