Groupe BEL achieves dual certification from ASI for responsible sourcing and stewardship of aluminium for product packaging

For the first time in history, a company from the food industry has attained the Aluminium Stewarship Initiative’s dual certification – Performance Standard and Chain of Custody Standard. As per the report released by ASI on Tuesday, June 28, Groupe BEL, a multinational cheese marketer centred in France, has bagged the certifications for responsible sourcing and stewardship of aluminium used for its product packaging.

ASI has clarified that dual certification is for the aluminium-related activities at the Sablé-sur-Sarthe plant and material stewardship related activities at Groupe BEL headquarters in France.

ASI Performance Standard certification focuses on material stewardship issues such as product design, life cycle assessments, management of process scrap and collection and recycling of products at end-of-life. Chain of Custody Standard, on the other hand, defines requirements for the creation of a Chain of Custody for material produced and processed through the value chain into diverse downstream sectors.

The independent, third-party audit of the Groupe BEL facility and activities was carried out by DNV Business Assurance Services UK Ltd.

Vincent Gauteron, Sablé-sur-Sarthe Plant Director at Bel Group, said: “We are very happy that our Sablé-sur-Sarthe factory, which produces thousands of cheese portions each day, has ensured that its aluminium chain is certified following the exacting criteria of the ASI standard! Bel’s commitment to sustainable aluminium sourcing has its roots in our responsible packaging policy. Besides working on advancing the sorting and recycling process and adopting an eco-design approach, we have made the commitment that 100% of our aluminium will be ASI-sourced by 2025.”

Fiona Solomon, Chief Executive Officer at ASI, said: “ASI warmly congratulates Groupe BEL on achieving dual ASI Certification at its Sablé-sur-Sarthe plant. Downstream aluminium users can be a key driver for the circular economy, as the interface between upstream aluminium supply and consumers.  Groupe BEL engages these stakeholders through their responsible packaging policy that includes responsible sourcing, eco-design, recycling information for its customers and support for the development of appropriate recycling systems.”