CERTIFIED WOOD DEFINED

Certified Wood is wood that has been issued a certificate from an independent organization with developed standards of good forest management. This certificate verifies that wood products come from responsibly managed forests. Responsible forest management encompasses practices that are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable.

FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL (FSC) DEFINED

FSC is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit organization established to promote responsible forest management practices worldwide. It was created out of concern for loss of the world’s forests and failure to address deforestation. FSC forest management certification is awarded to forest managers who adopt practices that are environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable.

Are there other forest product certification programs?

There are several forest product certification programs internationally, including the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Currently, the USGBC LEED^® Rating System accepts wood-based materials and products certified in accordance with FSC principles and criteria.

What is chain of custody?

FSC Chain of Custody certification is awarded to companies that can track and document FSC certified material through the production process, from the forest to the consumer, including all successive stages of procurement, processing, manufacturing, distribution and sale of certified goods.