What is FSC?

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the only forest certification system broadly endorsed by environmental and social organizations internationally. FSC is an independent, third party certification scheme that audits on-the-ground logging operations according to ten international principles and criteria to ensure sustainable logging operations. FSC is the only international certification scheme that is recognized by Canopy and other environmental groups as a measure of ecologically sustainable logging.

Canopy sees FSC as part of the solution for forest conservation globally and to ensuring a secure supply of environmentally improved papers.

The Ancient Forest Friendly policies developed by the companies we work with call on paper mills to produce papers with maximized post consumer and de-inked recycled fibre and maximized agricultural residue fibre. Where virgin tree fibre is required there is a stated preference for FSC certified forest fibre, ideally from second growth forests or tree farms.

Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), ISO 14001 and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes (PEFC) do not ensure sustainable on the ground forest management.