From the forest floor to the customer's door.
FSC Chain-of-Custody refers to the path taken by raw materials from an FSC-certified forest to their final use in a product that is sold to an end-user. This path includes every link in the value chain — from processing and manufacturing to distribution and printing.
Chain-of-custody certification is essentially a “paper trail” — one that enables manufacturers, suppliers, end-users and regulatory groups to track any FSC-certified product back to its forest of origin. This means of validation helps to insure the integrity of the FSC standard.
When you see the FSC logo on a product, it means the chain-of-custody was kept intact — and you can be sure that the materials used to produce it came from a well-managed, FSC-certified forest.
Who needs chain-of-custody certification?
Anyone who changes the product or its packaging, or anyone who takes possession of the product must obtain FSC certification. This includes the paper mill, merchant, converter and printer.
Who are the key links in the chain-of-custody?
1. Forests: The original link in the chain is an FSC-certified forest, evaluated by an independent certifier to be managed with FSC criteria, principles and standards.
2. Raw Materials: Processed trees, wood chips and either virgin or recycled fiber must come from FSC-certified, responsibly managed forests.
3. Pulp or Paper Manufacturer: Must commit to procurement of FSC fiber and agree to strict procedures for handling raw materials and inventory.
4. Paper Merchants: Distributors and Resellers are required to implement an inventory control system that segregates and identifies products as FSC-certified.
5. Printers: In addition to separating inventory, printers must also act as gatekeepers for proper FSC logo use on printed products.
Can I include the FSC logo on a project?
The FSC Chain-of-Custody must be intact in order to print the FSC logo on a final product, representing it as certified. In most cases, the printer’s CoC number is included in the logo.