The FSC Asia-Pacific team wrapped up an impactful two days at RETHINK HK 2025, where we connected with hundreds of business leaders, supply chain professionals, and sustainability advocates at Booth #E57. This year’s event brought together solution providers and innovators tackling today’s compliance challenges, and our team was at the center of conversations about responsible sourcing and credible supply chain management.
At Booth #E57, our specialists guided visitors through regulatory compliance steps and shared tools to help companies meet new environmental standards while finding credible material sources. The booth buzzed with discussions around EUDR, FSC certification, and practical steps for building traceable, trustworthy procurement programs.
Expert Insights from the Supply Chain & Logistics Stage
Our colleagues took the stage to share proven strategies for balancing business growth with ethical sourcing.
Neha Simlai, Head of Market Development of FSC APAC, tackled the tough question of balancing profit margins and long-term sustainability goals. Citing recent data, Neha explained, "Companies with robust sustainability programmes achieve 33% higher profit margins than industry peers. ESG risk management, supply-chain relationships, and strong sustainability commitment are the triad that builds trust—not just in the short term, but for years to come." She underscored that, while sustainability used to be optional, today it's central to customer trust, talent retention, and winning contracts. The panel, featuring voices from ACT Group and Vitasoy, shared hard-earned lessons on the trade-offs between near-term cost pressures and the wide-reaching benefits of responsible, FSC-certified sourcing.
Michelle Wong, Deputy Regional Director of FSC APAC, spoke on how technology is transforming forestry supply chains. She unpacked the growing necessity for decarbonizing global supply chains, linking this shift directly to climate change and biodiversity protection. Michelle emphasized, "International regulations like the EUDR are setting new benchmarks. Blockchain-based platforms like FSC Trace are game-changers for ensuring data integrity, supply chain transparency, and credibility." She encouraged industry players to broaden their focus beyond price—considering environmental and social impacts in every procurement decision, driving the sector toward a genuinely sustainable future.
Key Takeaways:
- Sustainability is now a business essential: Companies prioritizing sustainability programs are outperforming peers—not just environmentally, but financially, too.
- Tech and transparency lead the way: Digital innovations like blockchain are changing how supply chain integrity and traceability are verified and maintained.
- ESG and compliance drive competitive advantage: Meeting global standards like EUDR isn’t just about avoiding penalties—it’s about building trust and unlocking new opportunities in the market.
RETHINK HK 2025 Adopts 100% FSC-Certified Honeycomb Panels for Sustainable Booths and Displays
A significant development this year is our partnership with RETHINK HK to transition all organizer booths and display materials to use only FSC-certified honeycomb panels—a first for events in the region. This step ensures that every material is sourced from forests managed without deforestation, adhering to rigorous FSC standards. Importantly, these panels are fully recyclable in Hong Kong, setting a new benchmark for responsible event practices and spotlighting our commitment to sustainability. By helping the event make this shift, we’re showing that credible sourcing is possible at scale—even in high-impact settings like expos and conferences.
Thanks to everyone who joined our sessions or visited Booth #E57. RETHINK HK is a reminder: the supply chain challenges ahead are real, but so are the solutions. This community is leading the way, one responsible sourcing decision at a time.