As part of the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) Forest Week, global sustainable packaging company BioPak is championing the use of responsibly sourced fibre, urging the foodservice industry to take greater responsibility for the materials it puts into the market.

Running until 27 September, FSC Forest Week 2026 encourages businesses and consumers to take action for forests under the theme ‘Do one thing for forests’.

BioPak Group Chief Sustainability Officer Saxon Wright said responsible sourcing is an important part of the company’s broader mission to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based plastics and minimise its impact on the planet.

“Today, 74% of our paper and wood products are FSC certified, however our goal is to get that to 100%. For BioPak, the FSC label is more than just a symbol; it provides assurance that the materials we source come from responsibly managed forests, reclaimed materials or controlled sources.

“When we talk about sustainable packaging, we need to look at the entire journey of a material, including its origin. Forests are critical ecosystems that support biodiversity, communities and the planet’s natural systems and we must protect them. We need to use renewable materials and we also have a responsibility to help protect and restore the ecosystems they come from.” 

BioPak’s commitment to forests extends beyond the materials used in its products. Since 2012, the company has donated more than $940,000 to Rainforest Rescue, supporting the protection and restoration of the Daintree Rainforest.

Through its contribution, 41,419 trees have been rescued and 66,220 planted, with more than 22 hectares of rainforest protected or restored across six properties and three restoration sites. BioPak’s support has also contributed to the equivalent of more than 107,000 trees planted and protected.

BioPak has also partnered with veritree on global reforestation and restoration projects, supporting the planting of more than 60,000 trees across projects including the restoration of landscapes affected by the British Columbia wildfires and mangrove ecosystems in Tanzania.

BioPak CEO Guy Brent said these initiatives reflect the company’s long-term commitment to looking beyond the product itself.

“BioPak was founded 20 years ago because our founders could see that the way we were producing and using packaging wasn’t working. That same mindset still drives us today.

“Our responsibility isn’t just to develop better packaging. It’s to think about the systems and resources behind it, from the forests our materials come from to what happens to packaging at the end of its life. We’re particularly proud of how that extends to the reforestation work we fund with our partners, Rainforest Rescue and vertiree.”

Mr Wright highlights how businesses can play a meaningful role through the material choices they make.

“There is no single solution to the packaging and waste challenge, but every material choice is a decision. FSC™ Forest Week is a timely reminder to look beyond the packaging in front of us and consider where it came from, how it was made and what we can do to support the ecosystems behind it.”

As BioPak enters its next 20 years, the company will continue to invest in material innovation, responsible sourcing and initiatives that support the protection and restoration of forests.