What is FSC® chain of custody certification?
How is paper traced from the forest to your carton, and how is that documented?
FSC® chain of custody certification documents that a forest-based material comes from a responsibly managed or recycled source, by tracing it at every stage from production to sale. Under FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) rules, every company in the supply chain must hold this certification before a product can carry an FSC® claim.
What is FSC®?
FSC® is an international certification system that supports the responsible management of forest resources. It has two main types of certificate: forest management certification, which documents how forests are managed, and chain of custody (CoC) certification, which documents the tracing of the product along the chain.
What does chain of custody guarantee?
- That certified material is not mixed with non-certified material,
- that inputs and outputs are recorded,
- that the FSC® claim on the product can be verified.
Commitments that come with the certificate
Companies holding an FSC® certificate commit not to engage in activities such as illegal logging and trade, destruction of high conservation value forests and violations of the ILO fundamental conventions.
What to look for when buying
Ask your supplier for the certificate code and check that the FSC® claim appears on the invoice or delivery note. If you want to use the FSC® label on your own product, you also need to hold a chain of custody certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Certificates and standards
01Does the FSC® label show that the packaging is recyclable?
No. FSC® documents the source of the raw material; recyclability is a separate property.
Certificates and standards
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