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

Testimonials about FSC

Corporate Wood and Paper Purchasers

 "...SFI does not protect forests. SFI condones environmentally harmful practices, including large-scale clear-cutting and chemical use, logging of old-growth and endangered forests, and replacement of forests by ecologically sound wood and paper products, I recommend sourcing from forests certified by the independent Forest Stewardship Council. The products come from forests that meet stricter environmental and social standards than other certification systems. Check out Don't Buy SFI for details regarding the problems with SFI and why FSC is a much better alternative..."

—Eric Brody, Sustainability Manager, Nau Inc., in www.grist.org,
January 22, 2007

Williams-Sonoma "...will begin sourcing, effective immediately, virtually all (in excess of 95 percent) of the paper used in the company's seven catalogs (Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Bed and Bath, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, west elm and Williams-Sonoma Home) from sources certified by FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)." "Williams-Sonoma, Inc. ... believe[s] that FSC is the gold standard when it comes to forest products certification systems.”

— Press Release, Williams-Sonoma, November 27, 2006

“The world’s forests support the ecological and climate processes upon which biodiversity and human life depend... Lowe’s long-term goal is to ensure that all wood products sold in our stores originate from well-managed, non-endangered forests. In order to meet this goal, Lowe’s will: ...give preference to the procurement of wood products from independently certified, well-managed forests. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is recognized as having the highest certification standards available today and will be given preference over other certification systems....”

— Lowe’s Policy on the Wood Contained in its Products

“For years, we’d been told that procuring environmentally sound commercial printing papers meant sacrificing quality and incurring higher costs... With the [FSC certified] Domtar EarthChoice line, that is simply no longer the case. Indeed, being green no longer requires painful compromises. There are no more excuses for doing the right thing...”

— Press Release, Mountain Equipment Co-op, 2/14/2006

“To ensure that Dell continues to make progress on its paper stewardship goals, Dell will... [increase] use of recycled and alternative fiber, as well as [increase] use of wood and fiber independently certified as sustainable, with a preference for wood and fiber certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)...”

— Dell Computer Forest Products Stewardship Model, October, 2004

“Dell established a Forest Products Stewardship Model… [that] sets two primary goals for the company: increasing use of recycled-content paper… [and] responsible sourcing including purchasing 25 percent of all paper requirements from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) sources by 2010. Dell is currently sourcing between 15 and 20 percent of paper from FSC-certified sources exceeding an interim goal… and quickly closing in on its 2009 goal of 25 percent….”

— Press Release, Dell Computer, 11/7/2006

“Hayward recognizes Forest Stewardship Council Certification as the only third-party verified program for truly sustainable forestry.”

— Hayward Lumber website, March 2006

"The only current standard that meets the long-term aims of IKEA is that of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).”

— 2004 Sustainability Report, IKEA

“The FSC is the most credible and scientifically sound standard in the marketplace. It provides far more environmental protection and social responsibility than other certification systems. And it has helped us meet our most important sustainability goals.”

— Derek Smith, Norm Thompson Outfitters, January, 2006

“We are thrilled to purchase FSC-certified paper and promote the FSC brand in our catalog... Forest conservation is one of [Norm Thompson’s] central sustainability priorities. Accordingly, we aim by 2005 to have all catalogs printed on paper that derives from well-managed forests certified to a standard endorsed by credible NGOs.  FSC best meets this criteria.”

— Derek Smith, Norm Thompson Outfitters, in FSC US News & Views, February 2004

“’We found that the use of FSC-certified wood was an excellent way for us to both build well and build responsibly.’  Goldman Sachs has received certification of this building project through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program of the U.S. Green Building Council.”

— Anthony Cammarata, Goldman Sachs, in FSC US News & Views, November, 2005

"The Home Depot is proud to supply FSC wood to the X Games.  We want younger audiences to understand how we are committed to supplying certified wood and that sustainable forestry is important to their future."

— Ron Jarvis, Home Depot, in FSC News & Views, August, 2004.

“…We pledged to give preference to wood that has come from forests managed in a responsible way and to eliminate wood purchases from endangered regions of the world….  We sell more FSC certified wood than any other retailer in America….”

— Wood Purchasing Policy, The Home Depot.

The Home Depot sold $250 million of FSC lumber in 2002.  “Home Depot's purchases from Tembec have grown ‘probably three-fold’ over the past three years, said Ron Jarvis, merchandising vice-president at the Atlanta-based retailer. Tembec won Home Depot's environmental vendor of the year award for 2004.”

— Wall Street Journal, 1/2/2003, and “Canada’s Paper Tigers…Timber Firms Praised for Conservation Efforts….”  Wall Street Journal,12/27/2005.

“Nike will give purchasing preference, where price and availability allow, to wood and paper products that originate in forests that have been independently certified as being well-managed.  Nike will recognize only those certifications issued by organizations accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)….”

— Nike Forest Products Policy.

“The FSC is the only forest certification system that comes close to effectively addressing the range of social and environmental elements critical to responsible use of the world’s forests.  Efforts to claim… ‘equivalency’ between FSC and other programs are misguided and misleading, given the very real differences in the standards, procedures, and performance results of the different programs.”

— Statement released by Canada Adventure Travel, Ornamentum Furniture, and other businesses, 1st Nations, Labor, and Conservation Groups, 3/28/2003.

“Although the eye-catching [FSC certified] Smartwood Exotics have made a favorable splash in the marketplace and have heightened awareness of the need for sustainable forestry management, our long-term goal is not just to promote certified-wood guitars as something special.  In fact, it is just the opposite—to bring our industry to a point where certified-wood guitars are nothing special at all, where the use of certified wood is standard procedure."

— Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson Guitar, in US News & Views, March, 2003.

“We are committed to being a force of change in the furniture industry and among consumers. Imagine what the impact would be in the forests of the world if furniture manufacturers were to embrace FSC certification.  We can make that happen."

— Einar A. Elsner, South Cone Trading Co., in FSC US News & Views, February, 2003.

“The Forest Stewardship Council’s Principles represent the industry’s most rigorous standards for forest stewardship.”

— furniture maker Knoll Inc., Knoll website, June, 2006.

"At Knoll we're always exploring cleaner, safer, more sustainable manufacturing methods… we appreciate the value of working with organizations like the FSC to develop the most efficient use of natural resources.”

— furniture maker Knoll Inc., in FSC US News & Views, February, 2003.

“Wood Floor Resource Group seeks FSC certification for our products and suppliers because our clients demand it. A sophisticated clientele such as one finds in the green building movement looks askance at programs and standards whose rigor and credibility are in question. The LEED green building rating system of the U.S. Green Building Council only recognizes FSC certification for forestry and forest products; this signals to most green building practitioners that FSC is the only acceptable program around.”

— Jason Grant, Wood Floor Resource Group, June, 2006.

“’In order to be competitive, we needed to have FSC capability.’  Rulon thinks it is important to have COC certification to show their customers that they are committed to responsible forestry practices.  …the market for Rulon’s FSC-certified products is growing even more rapidly in recent months, with the continually gaining popularity of the LEED program….”

— Article on and quotes from the Rulon Company, in FSC US News & Views, October, 2003.

“Golden State Lumber is committed to protecting the environment and to the responsible use of natural resources.  …whenever practical and economically practicable, we purchase products from forests certified as well managed by an independent certifier of the Forest Stewardship Council….”

— Letter to suppliers, Golden State Lumber, October, 2002.

“We are proud to receive certification from the Forest Stewardship Council, which sets high standards promoting environmentally responsible forest management practices worldwide, sustaining the earth’s forest resources for future generations.”

— Thomas A. Quadracci, Quad/Graphics.

“The Body Shop has been a long-standing supporter of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)….”

— The Body Shop Values Report, The Body Shop, 2005.

“Today, Kinko’s marks a major milestone in our pursuit of a sustainable future with the introduction of our first FSC-certified stock…."

— Larry Rogero, Kinkos, in FSC US News & Views, August, 2003.

“FSC allows us the opportunity to confirm this environmental commitment to consumers and show them we take responsibility."

— Pat Shelton, Superior Floor, in FSC US News & Views, December, 2002.

“I have had the opportunity to help support several local saw mill operations over the years through my business, and I believe that FSC certification will provide yet another means to contribute to the goals of sustainable forestry in Vermont and in the New England region.  In this small, integrated way, we are helping to serve the larger, global picture."

— Nils Shenholm, Solhem Sauna, in FSC US News & Views, February, 2003.