Promoting Sustainable Forestry

In the world of sustainability, more and more companies are looking to show their commitment to environmental friendliness. But sometimes it’s tricky to know which companies are putting in the work and which ones are merely jumping on the green bandwagon. That’s why the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has become so important.

Founded in 1993, the FSC has become the most trusted organization in forest certification. With a goal of uniting individuals, businesses, and governments to protect our forests in order to fight climate change, protect biodiversity, and support communities, they’ve become the world’s most rigorous and trusted certification systems.

The FSC provides one of the highest standards of protection for endangered species and maintains forests.

These efforts have recently transferred over into the design sector, where FSC has been working to develop certified textile supply chains since 2015. As a platform that prides itself on hosting brand partner products that are responsibly and sustainably designed and manufactured, this movement to restore and protect forests hits close to home for Material Bank — being green is a massive part of who we are.

The Forest Stewardship Council certified products support responsible forestry, helping keep forests healthy for future generations.

FSC-certified products are made from raw materials that begin from well-managed forests and responsible sources. The label’s “check tree” traceability and integrity are upheld through stringent control measures, and by choosing FSC-certified products, you help take care of forests, people, and wildlife — while also knowing your purchase is being sustainably sourced all the way from the forest to store shelves.

The FSC label on a finished product signals that the materials used during production have met the chain of custody requirements at every step in the supply chain, from sourcing to distribution.

So how does a company go about becoming certified by the FSC? To qualify for chain of custody certification your organization must implement a management system that ensures the following:

• The forest-based materials used in part or all of production are FSC-certified, including any reclaimed materials.
• FSC-certified material is identified and tracked during the manufacturing and distribution processes.
• All documents and records relating to FSC-certified product production, purchase, and sales are kept.

FSC certification is designed to reward a company’s commitment to sustainability.

Companies and manufacturers must also meet FSC’s core labor requirements, including:

• No child or forced labor.
• No discrimination in employment and occupation.
• Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.

Chain-of-custody certification shows your supply chain and customers that you’re committed to sustainable sourcing. It verifies you’ve put processes in place to produce and trade FSC-certified products.

Certification makes a big impact on both businesses big and small.

For the interior design industry, there are a number of ramifications for participating in the certification process. Many wood finish and furniture projects make use of hardwoods to accentuate modern interior design. And with FSC, you and your clients can make use of these materials guilt-free knowing they came from — and support — well-managed forests. Now that’s a sustainability story we can get behind.

Explore all FCS-certified Brands on Material Bank.

Learn more about other sustainable certifications like BIFMA Level Certified Furnishings for a Sustainable Future.