Home > Environment > Certifications > FSC

Certifications: FSC

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a nongovernmental, non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests. The FSC provides internationally recognized standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies, organizations and communities interested in responsible forestry. The FSC logo and on-product labels have become the globally trusted mark for businesses and consumers looking for forest products that benefit people, the environment and that also provide ongoing business value.

Certified forests can be found in 81 nations and account for roughly 7% of the world's productive forests. FSC labeled products are valued at over 20 million USD.

Benefits

Carrying the FSC label assures consumers of compliance with the highest social and environmental standards in the forest product market. Being labeled as a FSC certified can bring recognition to responsible practices and in turn give credibility with customers, partners, financial groups and even watchdog organizations. Many governments and organizations are now requiring usage of FSC certified products. Being FSC certified allows access to these environmentally sensitive markets.

The FSC has four types of certification:

• Forest Management: certification for a forest or plantation area.
• Small and Low Intensity Managed Forests: certification that addresses problems faced by small forest operations and low intensity forest operations in accessing and retaining FSC forest management certification
• Chain of Custody: follows FSC certified material from production to the consumer.
• Controlled Wood: ensures raw materials used that are not FSC certified are not procured through the most destructive or harmful means.

Qualification

Earning FSC certification and its label requires implementation of all of the FSC’s applicable requirements. Their standards are some of the highest for social and environmentally friendly management of forests in the world and have been proven to work in a variety of settings. The FSC rules can be found at www.fsc.org.

There are 5 steps to becoming FSC certified:

• Contact one or several FSC accredited certification bodies. After becoming informed, they will provide requirements and a cost and time estimate for certification.
• After selecting a certification body, sign an agreement.
• A certification audit is performed and the data is made into a report that the certification body will use to determine its decision.
• If the body decides positively, an FSC certificate is awarded. If the audit reveals incomplete compliance with FSC requirements, the certification body will provide suggestions for changes to be implemented.
• Once given, an FSC certification is valid for five years. The certification body will continue to perform annual audits to verify continued compliance.

Certification Marks & Logos

The Forest Stewardship Initiative employs an on-product FSC logo, or label, available for use by participating companies. Each company that uses the logo must be approved by the FSC.

Logo Usage

Mills can receive FSC certification based on their usage of responsibly produced raw materials. This is through either using a certain percentage of post-consumer recycled fibers or virgin fiber sourced through FSC certified forests and practices. An accreditation body will allow the mill use of the FSC chain of custody certification logo on products, and documents such as invoices and business-business letters.

If a printer uses paper that is FSC chain of custody certified, an accreditation body will allow them to use the FSC trademark logo. The logo is used on products and publications printed on certified paper. The logo used depends on whether the paper used is made from recycled or properly managed virgin fibers. Designers use a FSC chain of custody certified printer, they may use the FSC logo on their pieces. A list of FSC certified printers and publishers can be found at www.fsc-info.org.

Resources

Top