The mission of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is to “promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests.” In underdeveloped areas of the world, creating financial revenue can lead to irresponsible deforestation. The FSC seeks to preserve the world’s forests and provide adequate revenue without devastating natural forest resources, ecosystems, or individual cultures and societies.
By setting standards and international regulations, and working to progressively push the standards, they strive to assure the forests of the world will be prosperous. Sustainable furniture, according to the FSC, is made from lumber that companies harvest with restrictions in production to prevent over logging; they forbid hazardous pesticides, exclude the farming of genetically modified trees, and the producers never negatively impact areas which support the habitat of endangered animals.
Through the increase in demand of sustainable furniture lifelong jobs are created by plans that stretch years into the future. This will impact local workers and communities with the motivation of sustainable living for generations. There are also measures taken to guarantee workers rights are not violated. Manufactures of sustainable furniture may benefit from government subsidies because of their responsible practices.
Manufactured goods like sustainable furniture will proudly brandish the trademark with the FSC and/or certification organization. The FSC does not provide certification for sustainable furniture, they endorses organizations to certify forests, manufacturers, and administration. This is done to separate the FSC from those seeking certification so there is no conflict of interest. “Over 90 million hectares in more than 70 countries have been certified according to FSC standards” (FSC: Forest Stewardship Council). There are two types of certification possible. The first type of FSC certification for sustainable furniture is Forest Management (FM), which certifies that the harvester has adhered to FSC Principals of responsible forest management. Sustainable furniture can be declared that it comes from a forest that meets FSC standards, but cannot be marketed for sell as FSC certified sustainable furniture until it is COC certificated. Sustainable furniture for sale branded with the FSC logo is Chain of Custody (COC) certified. This is a ’promise’ to the consumer that means through every step of manufacturing sustainable furniture, raw material, distribution, working conditions and workers, FSC regulations are met undisturbed.
Consumers worldwide can identify this distinguishable trademark and name of the FSC associated with sustainable furniture and support conscientious management. In turn growth of this environmentally friendly industry will be necessary. The FSC manages the marketing of its certification for sustainable furniture, through local and international campaigns. They seek new markets for sustainable furniture to increase label recognition worldwide. They promote sustainable furniture based upon the environmental and social value. Learn more about Forest Stewardship Council through their site.
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