FSC label
What is an FSC label?
FSC stands for “Forest Stewardship Council,” or in Dutch, “hallmark for responsible forest management. It is an internationally recognized label awarded to wood and paper products that come from forests managed in a sustainable manner.
The label is awarded to products that meet strict social, environmental and economic criteria. The FSC label promotes the protection of biodiversity, preservation of ecosystems, respect for the rights of local communities and workers, and ensuring long-term sustainable forest management.
FSC label criteria
The Forest Stewardship Council maintains a set of strict criteria that must be met to obtain the FSC label. We like to list the most important criteria for you:
- Sustainable forest management: Management practices should aim to conserve biodiversity, protect water resources, respect the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, and maintain the health and vitality of the forest.
- Protection of ecologically important areas: Forests of high ecological value, such as protected natural areas, should be protected. They should not be turned into plantations or cut down.
- Respect for the rights of workers and local communities: The rights of workers and local communities must be respected. This includes the right to free trade unionism, fair wages, healthy and safe working conditions and the involvement of local communities in the decision-making process.
- Timber harvesting and production: Timber harvesting must be done in an environmentally responsible manner. The impact on the forest and surrounding area should be minimized. Illegal logging and genetically modified organisms are avoided.
- Monitoring and evaluation: Systems must be in place for monitoring, reporting and verification of forest management practices and the supply chain to ensure compliance with FSC criteria.
Types of FSC labels
There are three types of FSC labels, depending on the origin of the wood:
- FSC 100%: All the wood in the product comes from FSC-certified forests.
- FSC Mix: Some of the wood in the product comes from FSC-certified forests, while other sources meet strict controls to ensure sustainability.
- FSC Recycled: All wood comes from recycled material.
How is FSC certification achieved?
An FSC certificate is an official recognition awarded by the Forest Stewardship Council. It is designed to verify that the management of forests and production of wood and paper meet their sustainability requirements.
FSC checks this itself during a comprehensive audit. If the organization meets all strict criteria, the label is awarded. This certificate has a validity period and is reviewed regularly through a follow-up audit. Thus, they ensure that compliance with the criteria is maintained at all times.
How do you recognize the FSC label?
You will recognize the FSC label by:
- FSC logo: The FSC logo is a stylized tree with a checkmark underneath. The tree symbolizes responsible forest management, while the checkmark indicates that the product is certified and meets FSC criteria.
- “FSC” text: In addition to the logo, you will usually see the text “FSC” on the label. This is short for Forest Stewardship Council.
- Identification number: Below the logo and text is a unique identification number that links the product to the specific FSC certification process.
- Mention of FSC certification: Sometimes there is also a statement such as “FSC certified” or “Hallmark for responsible forest management” on the label.
- Origin information: Depending on the type of FSC label (FSC 100%, FSC Mix, FSC Recycled), information on the origin of the wood in the product is also given, for example, “FSC 100%” if all the wood comes from FSC-certified forests.
ThermoWood with FSC label
Stevens & C° offers Thermowood ayous and fraké in FSC. This is only available upon order.