FSC

Definition

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, non-governmental organisation that promotes the responsible management of commercial forestry. FSC operates the world’s most widespread voluntary certification system that covers over two million square kilometres of forest, and its logo is easily identifiable across the supply chain, from forestry management and logging, to manufacturing and end-use consumer products.

Principles

Established in the 1990s by a collection of environmentalists, businesses and community leaders, FSC now operates a certification system in over 80 countries that allows members to market products and services representing the organisation’s core values of (net) zero deforestation, fair wages and sustainability.

FSC certification confirms that a forest is managed in a way that both recognises biological diversity and benefits the lives of local people and workers. This ensures sustainable economic viability through a variety of principles, including high conservation values, workers rights and environmental and social impact monitoring. 

FSC operations and certifications cover various stages of forestry production and produce, ranging from forest owners who wish to demonstrate that their logging is socially and environmentally beneficial, through to the chain of custody for companies that manufacture, process or trade forest products and wish to verify FSC certified forest goods along the production chain.