Forest Stewardship Council

Choosing products from forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) can be an important part of using wood and paper more responsibily. FSC forestry certification ensures that wood and paper products come from forests that meet strict environmental and social standards. Creating demand for FSC-certified products can also encourage forest managers to adopt improved practices, while supporting landowners that already manage their forests well.

The FSC is the original international forest certification system, and is still widely considered the most credible and effective system. It was created in 1993 by forest managers and producers, conservation groups, and labor, indigenous, and other social interest groups from North America and globally. The FSC is supported and governed by a balance of business, environmental, and social interests, nationally and internationally, and remains the choice of most conservation groups that promote certification.

Other certification schemes like the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and the Program for Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) do not provide equivalent assurances, and too often endorse the logging of Endangered Forests and other controversial practices.

>> Read testimonials on FSC from corporate wood and paper purchasers, architects and builders, scientists, labor and indigenous groups, wood and paper producers and distributors, and conservation and consumer groups

>> Learn more about why FSC is better than other certification systems at credibleforestrycertification.org