PG Bison actively strives to operate in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. By taking cognisance of current environmental conditions and directing our efforts accordingly, we can contribute positively towards the environment of tomorrow, while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Company. Furthermore, operating within environmentally sound principles leads to a stable and consistent product supply, allowing our Customers to plan and develop with confidence.

What is FSC?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is "an independent, non-governmental, not for profit organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests."

"Products carrying the FSC label are independently certified to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations."

FSC seeks to:

• Prohibit conversion of natural forests or other habitat around the world
• Prohibit the use of highly hazardous pesticides around the world
• Prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified trees (GMOs)
  Respect the right of indigenous peoples around the world
• Control each certified operation at least once a year - and if they are found not to comply, withdraw the certificate

The FSC provides overarching principles for responsible forest management. Here are some of the key principles:

• Recognition and respect of indigenous peoples' rights
• Reduction of environmental impact of logging activities and maintenance of the ecological functions and integrity of the forest
• Appropriate monitoring and assessment activities to assess the condition of the forest, management activities and their social and environmental impacts

PG Bison is committed to ensuring that our timber supply, the main component of panel products, remains a renewable raw material. As a mark of PG Bison's commitment to sustainable plantation management, the PG Bison plantations of the South Eastern Cape1 and North Eastern Cape Forests2 (NECF) are certified according to the requirements of the FSC, while the PG Bison Ugie Board Plant has received its FSC Chain of Custody (COC) certification3.

What does this mean to you, the Customer?

When you purchase a product supplied under the FSC mark, you can rest assured, the raw material used to make that product was sourced from a responsibly managed forest or plantation.

However, although you are buying a product that carries the FSC mark, which you may be upgrading into a finished product for end-consumers or onward selling, you are not automatically entitled to sell your product with the FSC mark on it or claim that your product is FSC certified. Simply purchasing FSC products is insufficient grounds to use the FSC mark on your products.

Your products may only be sold under the FSC mark if you are in possession of a valid FSC COC Certificate and undergo the required verifications and audits. This will entail installing management systems to control the procurement, usage and supply of FSC certified products as well as undergoing external audits on your operations. There are also minimum procurement levels and content of FSC product that must be adhered to in order to receive certification.

For more information on FSC, please visit:
www.fsc.org

For any further enquiries into PG Bison's sustainability and environmental position, please do not hesitate to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

¹ Steinhoff Southern Cape (Pty) Ltd - SGS-FM/COC-001143 © FSC A.C. 1996
² North Eastern Cape Forests (Pty) Ltd - SGS-FM/COC-001338 © FSC A.C. 1996
³ PG Bison Ltd - Ugie - SA-COC-002195 © FSC A.C. 1996