Choosing Sustainable Wood Products: the FSC® Certification

Although 30% of the world’s land area is still covered by forests, deforestation has resulted in the loss of 46% of trees since humans first started cutting down trees. This might seem like a strange leading statement for a company that has wood in its name, but we believe that we can have our wood products and our planet too. If you look back over our history, you’ll see that a priority has been sustainability, from our processes to the materials that we use. Because we recognize that our industry contributes to the environmental and social impact of deforestation, it was important to us that we pursue a Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) chain-of-custody (CoC) certification.

Why FSC® Certification?

The FSC is a rigorous, credible, non-profit forest certification system that strives to “promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests.” Our early education taught us that trees absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, keep the planet’s surface cool, hold the soil together, and provide habitats for both flora and fauna. In addition, forests provide homes and livelihood for many people. FSC’s principles and criteria protect not only the health of the forests themselves through regulation of harvesting and pesticide and chemical use but also the rights of indigenous peoples. By following these principles and criteria, companies can help sustainably meet their needs for forest products. As a consumer, seeing the FSC® certification indicates that the product has come from “responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social and economic benefits.”

What is the Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Certification?

Because we use forest products, but are not custodians of forests, the CoC certification was the most appropriate choice for us. According to the FSC, any company that is taking ownership of a product, all the way up to the end user, needs to be FSC® certified to pass along the FSC claim to the next company. In other words, the CoC process tracks the product throughout the supply chain and ensures that all companies are FSC® certified for the end product to be considered FSC® certified. Then, when consumers see the FSC® certified logo, they can be certain that the product has been responsibly sourced from well-managed forests, controlled sources, reclaimed materials, or a mixture of these.
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companies have been Chain-of-Custody certified in the US and Canada as of June 2019

Our FSC Certification

Our certification (FSC® Certified MDF (FSC-C126714)), which we first obtained in September 2015, is based on adherence to the FSC-STD-40-004 V3-0 standard for a secondary processor of the following product types: W5 solid wood (sawn, chipped, peeled), W5.2 solid wood boards, W8 wood panels, W8.2 particleboard, W8.3 fibreboard, and W8.3.1 high-density fiberboard (HDF).

What to Look For

When sourcing wood products, look for the FSC® certified label.

From day one, we’ve been committed to providing sustainable choices in powder coated wood products — for the good of us all. Want to learn more about our products? Contact us today.