fsc certification.
FSC = FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
Established in 1990 by a group of independent timber users and environmentalists—It is a non-profit INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. They set up a standard of principles for responsible forest management & created an auditing system to inspect and verify that a forest is being managed in accordance with FSC Standards
What is It?
FSC is a Global standard setting organization for sustainable forestry—Chain of Custody (COC)—Key word is “sustainability”—want to insure that our forests are maintained and ensure a steady supply of trees for our industry
Chain of Custody
From the forest to the paper mill to the paper merchant to the printer. The COC is the unbroken path that the products take from the forest to the consumer which includes all stages of manufacturing, transformation, and distribution. So it begins with forest management and stops with the end-user—assuring customers that they are buying products sourced from responsibly managed forests.
The FSC independently tracks, traces, and identifies wood fibers from the forest through every steop of process—manufacturing paper and ultimately printing on the paper—confirming that each supplier in the chain follows rigorous controls, management, and reporting practices.
The COC provides evidence that the certified product originates from certified “well managed” (efficient use of natural resources with minimal use of hazardous materials) forests and certifies that these products are NOT MIXED with products from uncertified forests at any point in the supply chain.
Chain of Custody certification is required whenever a company carries out any physical alteration to the timber product—when they take physical or legal ownership or whenever a company wishes to make independent use of the FSC trademark. Good documentation is an essential part of a good chain of custody.
Achieving a Secure Chain of Custody:
Products from certified forests are clearly marked as such and because of this identification it can be traced to a certified source.
For example, logs and timber from certified forests are marked accordingly just as final sheets or rolls of paper are.
2. Product Segregation
Certified products should not be mixed with non-certified material.
3. Documentation
This is essential to a good chain of custody.
4. Training
Employees must become familiar with our responsibilities as an FSC printer, as well as their individual responsibilities implementing and maintaining the Chain of Custody.
5. Record Keeping
Documentation should be able to track the job from its inception to its ultimate delivery and billing.