at a well-known steak
house in Brasilia.
The event was celebrated with a
typical churrasco barbecued with the certified charcoal. The steak house was proud to
announce to its clients that from now on it will only buy certified charcoal from Plantar.
FSC is the only green label for
forest products which is acknowledged world-wide. Certification guarantees that the forest
or plantation from where the timber comes is well managed, according to FSC Principles
& Criteria, which encompass environmental, business and labour aspects. This implies
sustainable forestry practices which do not degrade the native forest or plantation, as
well as the compliance with all the laws and regulations valid in the country.
"The arrival of the certified
charcoal in the Brazilian market gives the public an opportunity to make a socially and
ecologically correct choice," said Dr. Garo Batmanian, Director of WWF-Brazil and the
official contact person for FSC in the country.
All of the charcoal for barbecues
produced by Plantar for retail sale comes from a 7 000 hectares certified plantation owned
by the company, in Curvelo, in the state of Minas Gerais.
"FSC guarantees, to the
general public, that Plantar is an environmentally correct company. By itself the label is
enough to promote sales," said Ricardo Moura, director of Plantar, the leader in the
charcoal national market. From the year 2000 on, he expects the company will increase its
sales by 50%. Plantar plans to export its product and already has a buyer in the United
Kingdom.
