FSC certification

The Forest Stewardship Council^® (FSC^®) is a global, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide. The FSC has developed a unique system of forest certification and product labelling, helping consumers identify timber and products from responsibly managed forests.

The FSC defined its global standards for responsible forest stewardship in collaboration with environmental, social, and economic stakeholders. The system is also backed by a range of environmental and social NGOs, major companies and trade unions.

Across the globe, hundreds of millions of hectares of forest are certified to FSC forest management and controlled wood standards. More FSC products mean that more FSC certified forests are being managed in accordance with standards designed to support the long-term wellbeing of people and the planet.

Benefits of FSC certification

FSC certification is both a responsible and economically beneficial choice for businesses. 

Rigorous controls ensure that timber from FSC certified sources can be verified along the supply chain before it reaches the consumer.

A 2015 WWF study shows that the financial benefits of certification often outweigh the costs, enabling companies to earn an extra $1.80 US on average for every cubic metre of FSC-certified roundwood or equivalent (taking the costs associated with certification into account).

How FSC certification works

FSC has developed 10 rules, or principles, that define good forest management. These include:

• recognition of communities and indigenous peoples' rights

• long-term economic viability

• protection of wildlife and the environment

FSC forest management standards are built around these principles and have been adapted for different countries around the world.

In countries where FSC has not yet endorsed national standards, Soil Association Certification has adapted existing standards.