Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI) has achieved certification to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) fiber sourcing standard at its wood cellulose manufacturing plant near Perry, Florida.

The SFI sustainable forestry certification program is one of the largest in the world with over 160 million acres certified across North America. The SFI program is designed to promote responsible environmental behavior and sound forest management including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, species at risk, and forests of exceptional conservation value.

Buckeye Florida Site Manager Howard Drew said the fiber sourcing certification is an important part of the company’s environmental policy and will assist customers in making educated environmental choices about purchasing specialty cellulose products.

“Buckeye has a strong commitment to the environment and so do our customers,” Drew said. “This certification by an internationally recognized agency assures our customers that they are receiving wood cellulose fibers from responsible and sustainable sources.”

Company Chairman and CEO John Crowe said SFI certification supports Buckeye’s goal of continual improvement, conservation of natural resources, and reducing Buckeye’s environmental footprint.

“Buckeye’s employees understand that sustainability is at the core of everything we do. The SFI partnership will help ensure that transparency and accountability are key elements of our sustainability efforts.”

The fiber sourcing certification verifies that 100 percent of the wood supply at Buckeye’s Florida plant comes from a SFI certified procurement operation. In addition, certification requires the company to promote responsible forestry by encouraging landowners to reforest areas that have been harvested, to use best management practices for protecting water quality and to identify and protect important habitat elements for wildlife, including imperiled and critically imperiled species and communities.

SFI Inc. President and CEO Kathy Abusow said in a statement, “At a time when just 10 percent of the world’s forests are independently certified, Buckeye has taken a leadership role by supporting global efforts to improve forest practices.”

The SFI fiber sourcing certification applies only to Buckeye’s wood cellulose facility near Perry, Florida, which uses pine trees in the manufacturing process.

SFI Inc. is a 501 c (3) non-profit charitable organization responsible for maintaining, overseeing and improving the Sustainable Forestry Initiative program. SFI Inc. is governed by a three chamber board of directors representing environmental, social and economic sectors equally. The organization is headquartered in Washington, D. C.

Buckeye, a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials, is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The Company currently operates facilities in the United States, Germany, Canada, and Brazil. Its products are sold worldwide to makers of consumer and industrial goods.

Certain matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting the Company’s operations, financing, markets, products, services and prices, and other factors. For further information on factors which could impact the Company and the statements contained herein, please refer to public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.