Green manufacturing practices recognized by FSC

Published on October 1, 2009

You want to build green but never heard of Forest Stewardship Council-certified products? Don't worry, you're not alone. But that may soon change if the FSC in Washington, D.C., accomplishes its goal.

"Consumer awareness of FSC is very low," says Martha Hodgkins, FSC-U.S. communications director.

The FSC is an international, non-profit organization that promotes the responsible management of the world's forests. Since 1995, the U.S. chapter has focused on getting FSC-certified products — from lumber to paper — on the shelves of major retail stores. Consumers should look for the FSC logo with a green check mark wrapped around the top of a tree.

To earn FSC certification, a product must be made from wood harvested in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way. To determine this, third-party organizations assess and certify forest management practices using FSC principles. Those standards address habitat destruction, water pollution, displacement of indigenous peoples, and violence against people and wildlife that may accompany logging.

Meeting FSC standards adds to the forest manager's cost, which may be passed to the consumer, Hodgkins says. "We have found that consumers in the U.S. who want to do more for the environment are willing to pay a little bit more," she says.