Jul 01, 2009. /Lesprom Network/. American Pad & Paper (Ampad) company announced that it has achieved the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain-of-Custody Certification across all product categories and in its manufacturing facilities including those in Mattoon, IL and Morristown, TN, as reported by PRNewswire. "Ampad's commitment to the environment extends beyond recycled products as we are constantly looking for new ways to conserve and promote environmental stewardship," said J. Kevin Coughlin, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Part of our social responsibility is to ensure that we conduct business in a way that assures a positive ecological impact on the environment. Ampad's SFI(R) Certification enables our customers to make an educated environmental choice about the office products they buy." FSC certification means that Ampad can identify which products have come from an FSC-certified forest and tracks those materials as they leave the forest and become products downstream. This chain-of-custody aspect of the system is the basis for any credible certification system and is the link between consumer preference and responsible, on-the-ground forest management. "Deforestation and illegal logging are taking a huge toll on our planet, wildlife, and communities," says Corey Brinkema, president of Forest Stewardship Council-US. "But today, there is a groundswell of businesses like Ampad that, by becoming FSC Chain-of-Custody certified, are helping to advance responsible forest management around the world -- for the benefit of forests and people. We commend Ampad for its leadership." American Pad & Paper is a premier manufacturer and distributor of writing pads, filing supplies, retail envelopes and specialty papers.