FSC: what the Forest Stewardship Council label means

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international nonprofit that sets standards for responsible forest management and for the supply chains that carry forest products to market. There are two kinds of certificate behind every label.

Forest management certification applies to the forest. Managers commit to 10 principles. FSC says it prohibits converting natural forests to agriculture, bans logging in High Conservation Value areas and requires at least 10 percent of all certified forests to be set aside for conservation. It also requires training, safety protocols and fair wages for workers, and consultation with local communities.

Chain of custody certification applies to everyone after the forest: mills, manufacturers and distributors. Each must identify and track certified material, keep purchase and sales records, and meet FSC's core labor requirements. An FSC label on a finished product signals that every step met those rules.

The logo is the same on all three, so read the words under the tree. They do not mean the same thing, and FSC says the 100% label contributes most directly to its mission.

FSC Mix is the label that needs the most explaining. Controlled wood does not come from FSC-certified forests. FSC says it meets rules that mitigate the risk of the material coming from unacceptable sources, specifically avoiding five harmful practices.

So an FSC Mix crib is not a promise that every board came from a certified forest. It means the wood is some combination of certified, recycled and risk-screened material. FSC does not give a percentage on its label page, so do not assume one.

FSC writes the standards but does not issue the certificates. Only third-party, accredited certification bodies can audit and certify a forest or a company, and the applicant chooses which one to work with. For both forest management and chain of custody, FSC says the certification body conducts annual audits.

Certificates are public. FSC's certificate search shows each certificate's details, including the products it lists, and FSC points to Assurance Services International for the list of accredited certification bodies.

This is where the label gets stretched. FSC answers one question: where did the wood or paper come from. It does not test the finished product. A dresser made from FSC 100% wood can be finished with whatever lacquer and glue the maker chooses, and the FSC label would still be accurate.

For cribs and nursery furniture and sofas, pair FSC with something that addresses air, such as GREENGUARD Gold, and ask the maker what the finish is. The non-toxic nursery checklist puts those questions in order.

For wooden toys, FSC covers the timber only. Paint and small-parts safety are separate questions that a forest label does not address. On art supplies it refers to the wood or paper in the product or its packaging. A listing that offers FSC as proof a product is "non-toxic" is making the kind of leap our guide to spotting greenwashing describes.