FSC Standards

Global Deforestation

Each and every year an enormous area equal to half the size of the UK is cleared of natural forests, including both temperate and tropical, on all continents across the globe. These woodlands are irreplaceable and the impact of their loss has social, economic and environmental effects which are profound and devastating, as forests support 1.6 billion of the world’s poorest people, including 60 million indigenous men, women and children. Also affected are countless species of plants and animals that rely entirely on the forests for their survival.

The deforestation is a major contributor to the rise in CO2 emissions as forests play a huge part in the regulation of climate change. The effects of these changes have been seen around the world in recent years, as extremes of weather and unseasonal temperatures becomes a regular feature on our evening news.

What is FSC?

The FSC is an abbreviation for the Forest Stewardship Council. This is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting responsible management of forests across the world. Founded in 1993 in response to public concerns about deforestation, the FSC has developed a certification and product-labelling system that allows customers to identify products from well-managed forests.
This doesn’t just mean that they ensure felled trees are replanted. The FSC also ensures that the woodland is managed with due regard for the wildlife, the environment and the people who work and live there.
FSC certified products also carry a ‘chain of custody’ which tracks the wood through the supply chain from the forest to the retailer, so customers can be sure about the origins of the materials used in the manufacture their purchases.

Ten Facts about the FSC

1. Wood products bearing the FSC label can be purchased with a clear conscience, as these goods are made with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment.
2. The FSC label guarantees that the trees harvested are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally.
3. In order to protect rare animals or plants, parts of the forests are entirely protected.
4. The rights of indigenous people to use the forests are protected by the FSC. Any sacred sites are exempt from felling.
5. The FSC requires that forest owners use local people to work in the forest, and ensures they are properly trained, are provided with safety equipment and are paid decent salaries. Forest owners are also often obliged to support the local communities in other ways, such as through education for local children.
6. The FSC is a market-based initiative which also ensures improved conditions for the forest and the people who live and work there.
7. The FSC assures that future generations will be able to enjoy the benefits of the forests.
8. All timber is tracked from the forest to the end-user, with each link certified to ensure identification of genuine FSC certified wood.
9. The FSC is the only timber-certification scheme which has endorsement from major environmental charities, including Friends of the Earth, WWF, Greenpeace and The Woodland Trust.
10. The FSC label can be found on a range of products, not just wood. These include flooring, decking, charcoal, printed matter, paper products, kitchen utensils and even venison.

The FSC certification label on our Wheelie Bin Covers means that you can buy with confidence, knowing that in improving the look of your own outside space, you will not be contributing to the depletion of the world’s forests, but will instead be supporting the management and development of FSC forests across the world.