By buying FSC-certified products you are investing in our future. Protect wildlife habitat, ensure clean water, and keep our forests healthy for generations to come.
Consumers are increasingly concerned about the impact of their decisions on the environment and communities. Some companies are addressing this concern by making sure they know the origin of their products, and that they come from environmentally and socially responsible sources. One of the most widely recognized ways of doing this is by specifying wood and/or paper that is independently verified to have met the FSC's international standards.
All products that are FSC-certified contain wood or wood fibre from FSC-certified forests, controlled sources, or material that is 100% and post-consumer reclaimed or recycled material.
10 Reasons why companies should specify FSC-certified products:
Global paper consumption increased by twenty times in the past century, and has more than tripled over the past 30 years. Spurred on by growing consumer demand, the pulp and paper industry is offering more environmentally friendly (or "green") paper options than ever before.
There are various ways in which paper production can be made more environmentally friendly, whether it be through certifed wood fibre, renewable energy consumption or chlorine free bleaching processes. One of the most rapidly growing ways that manufacturers and consumers are decreasing the environmental impact of paper production is through FSC certified fibre. Paper made with FSC certified fibre and bearing the FSC logo is your guarantee that it has come from responsibly managed forests that maintain the highest environmental and social standards.
Customers are demanding that companies use paper products that come from a sustainable and responsible source. Industry leaders are delivering by printing on FSC-certified papers, and changing their purchasing policies to specify FSC-certified products. See a list of all companies using FSC certified products.
As world population surges and economies grow, the demand for wood fiber is rising accordingly. Not only is 40% of timber harvested from North American forests, but the region’s consumption of forest products is equally high. Ensuring the sustainability of our forests and reducing the impact of our activities is therefore of grave importance. This is particularly true for the building sector, which accounts for 60% of raw materials used in the U.S.
The environmental impact of the building sector, where residential construction consumes almost half of North America’s softwood, is of increasing concern to architects, builders and consumers. New ways of reducing the ecological footprint of buildings is being explored, and guarantees of responsible forest management practices being sought.
The question "where does my wood come from?" can only be answered if you are specifying FSC-certified wood products. The FSC is the only certification system recognized by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and Leadership (LEED) green building program, and is being used in hundreds of projects across North America.
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) green building rating system aims to assure environmentally sustainable design and construction by rating buildings on their ability to meet criteria in the six categories. Each category has points points available for the use of specific design features, technologies or materials.
The LEED® Materials and Resources Credit 7 recognizes the environmental and social value of building with responsibly sourced wood by including a credit that is specific to the use of FSC-certified products. Buildings may earn this credit, with a value of one point, if a minimum of 50% of wood-based materials and products (by cost) in the building are FSC-certified.
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