BRC® Certification: Netpak Receives Its Sixth Consecutive Designation
Originally published on August 22, 2019, this announcement marked Netpak’s sixth consecutive BRC® Grade AA certification. The article is preserved with current notes because the standard, terminology, and Netpak’s certification profile have continued to evolve.
The original 2019 announcement is retained as historical context and updated with current BRCGS Packaging Materials notes.
BRCGS certification supports documented control in packaging production
Netpak’s current certification page lists BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+, ISO 9001, GMI, G7 Master, FSC, PEFC, and SFI systems as part of its packaging compliance platform for controlled carton production.2
This page keeps the original 2019 announcement language where appropriate, while adding current notes so buyers understand the present BRCGS naming, issue status, and Netpak certification context.
Netpak obtained its sixth consecutive BRC® Grade AA certification
Netpak is proud to announce it has obtained its sixth consecutive BRC® “GRADE AA” certification by GFSI®.
Netpak’s commitment to our customers and continuous process improvement is at the heart of our core values. Being the first North American printer to be accredited with the highly coveted BRC® certification is among one of our many industry achievements and a true testament to our outstanding performance and quality.
Netpak’s current certification language now uses BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+. Netpak states that BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+ supports hygiene, risk assessment, supplier approval, and documented traceability for cartons used with direct or indirect food contact.2
Six consecutive designations
The 2019 article marked a sustained certification record for Netpak’s packaging production systems.
BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+
Netpak’s current certification profile references BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+ for food safety, hygiene, manufacturing controls, and traceability.3
Supplier qualification support
For food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and regulated packaging buyers, third-party certification helps support supplier review before production starts.
What is the BRC® certification?
Setting the standard in the food industry, the British Retail Consortium (BRC®) is a globally recognized organization that establishes a series of standards to help companies be compliant with food safety laws at all levels of the supply chain. Many food manufacturers are now requiring their suppliers to implement rigorous quality control programs and obtain highly-recognized certifications.
The BRC® Global Standards programme is fully approved by the Global Food Standard Initiative (GFSI®) and has become a benchmark in for best practice in the food and beverage industry. Being BRC® certified allows Netpak to validate our production process with the highest standards of quality, safety and traceability in the industry.
BRCGS has replaced the older BRC Global Standards naming. GFSI states that recognized certification programme owners must meet its Benchmarking Requirements, and describes GFSI recognition as a passport to the global market for certification programme owners and certified companies.4
What is the BRC® certification process?
The original 2019 article emphasized that certification depends on a formal audit process, recurring facility review, risk management, hygiene systems, manufacturing controls, and upstream and downstream traceability.
Receiving the BRC® designation requires an extremely thorough auditing process, conducted yearly. These formal performance reviews completed at our facility assess the various key components of our production process including our safety and hygiene systems, as well as our control on the manufacturing processes and production line. Risk management systems must be implemented, as well as a rigorous quality control process and upstream and downstream product traceability processes in order to successfully complete the audit and ensure we benchmark against the highest and most demanding standards in the industry.
Years ago, Netpak was among the first in North America to successfully complete the BRC® auditing process and to this day, we have successfully completed this process for the sixth consecutive year.
SGS describes BRCGS Packaging Materials certification as a way to demonstrate the quality of food packaging materials and processes. SGS also states that manufacturers want assurance that packaging is functional, safe, and will not harm or alter food products.5
Hygiene and safety systems
Packaging audits review whether hygiene and safety controls are documented, implemented, and functioning in production.
Manufacturing discipline
Controlled workflows help reduce risk across material handling, line clearance, production checks, printing, finishing, and release.
Upstream and downstream visibility
Traceability helps packaging teams identify materials, production batches, process history, and affected supply chain points when review is needed.
Audit readiness must be visible on the production floor
A packaging certification is not only a document. It must be reflected in material approval, job setup, line clearance, quality checks, lot traceability, corrective actions, and documented process control.
Prepress and production controls help support repeatability, documentation, and traceability across regulated carton programs.
What does the BRC® certification mean for Netpak?
Obtaining the BRC® designation is of the utmost importance for Netpak. Our customers can rest assured that our facility and packaging solutions meet and achieve the highest levels of the GFSI-recognized certifications for food safety, all while fulfilling their legal obligations and providing protection for the end consumer.
As the industry grows and adds various standards and requirements to meet, Netpak has made a continuous commitment to our customers and our company to maintain these strict standards of quality control, hygiene and food safety. We are proud to be pioneers in the folding carton packaging industry and we will continue to improve our processes to better help our customers and partners achieve their business goals.
Netpak’s current BRCGS AA+ article states that Netpak achieved BRCGS AA+ packaging certification under the BRCGS Packaging Materials standard following an unannounced audit. The article describes AA+ under unannounced audit conditions as a stronger signal of operating discipline during normal production.6
How BRCGS certification supports food and regulated carton buyers
For brands qualifying a folding carton packaging supplier, BRCGS certification can support supplier review, production confidence, and documentation needs across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, health and beauty, retail, and regulated consumer goods programs.
Controls for food-related carton programs
Netpak’s food packaging page states that BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+, ISO 9001, GMI, and G7 Master systems support traceability, print accuracy, and repeatable production.7
Audit alignment for regulated products
Netpak’s pharmaceutical packaging page references BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+ and ISO 9001 as systems supporting audited quality, traceability, and process discipline.8
Production controls buyers can verify
Netpak supports health and beauty packaging through recognized quality, colour, and sourcing systems, including BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+, ISO 9001, GMI, G7 Master, FSC, and PEFC.9
Current BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+ certification context supports supplier review for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and regulated carton programs.
The standard has evolved, but the buyer concern remains the same
Buyers need evidence that packaging is produced under controlled, documented, and repeatable systems. BRCGS Packaging Materials helps turn those expectations into an audited framework for packaging suppliers.
Request a quote from a BRCGS-certified folding carton supplier
Send Netpak your product category, carton specifications, dielines, artwork files, material requirements, food-contact expectations, certification needs, launch timing, and documentation requirements. Ask for a packaging review that covers BRCGS fit, ISO 9001 quality expectations, traceability, material controls, prepress, print, finishing, and production readiness.
Continue reviewing certified folding carton packaging requirements
Use these Netpak resources to evaluate BRCGS certification, food packaging supplier criteria, packaging services, and material selection before requesting production pricing.
Packaging certifications and compliance
Review Netpak’s BRCGS Packaging Materials AA+, ISO 9001, GMI, G7 Master, FSC, PEFC, and SFI systems.
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Food packaging supplier checklist
Evaluate food-contact fit, material controls, BRCGS systems, prepress support, production discipline, and logistics.
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Folding carton services
Plan carton design, prepress, printing, finishing, die-cutting, gluing, logistics, and production support.
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Paperboard material selection
Compare SBS, SUS, CRB, FBB, URB, and micro-flute for folding carton structure, print quality, compliance, and sourcing.
Open articleSources
- BRCGS, Packaging Materials. https://www.brcgs.com/our-standards/packaging-materials/
- Netpak, Certifications and Compliance. https://www.netpak.com/en/company/certifications-compliance/
- Netpak, Quality and Certifications. https://www.netpak.com/en/packaging-services/quality-certifications/
- Global Food Safety Initiative, GFSI-Recognised Certification Programme Owners. https://mygfsi.com/how-to-implement/recognition/certification-programme-owners/
- SGS, BRCGS Packaging Materials. https://www.sgs.com/en/services/brcgs-packaging-materials
- Netpak, BRCGS AA+ Packaging Certification. https://www.netpak.com/en/packaging-resources/industry-articles/netpak-brcgs-aa-certification/
- Netpak, Food Folding Carton Packaging. https://www.netpak.com/en/packaging-industries/food-packaging/
- Netpak, Pharmaceutical Folding Carton Packaging. https://www.netpak.com/en/packaging-industries/pharmaceutical-packaging/
- Netpak, Health and Beauty Folding Carton Packaging. https://www.netpak.com/en/packaging-industries/health-beauty-packaging/