Understanding FSC and How It Affects the Label Industry

The label industry struggles with material waste, energy consumption, and chemical disposal. Organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) help the industry create sustainable “greener” custom labels thanks to sustainable-sourced paper materials. Is your business looking for ways to become more eco-friendly with your labels? Using FSC certified paper materials can aid your efforts. These materials are not just better for the environment. FSC-certified paper materials can also save you money if you’re switching from more expensive materials like film. Learn more about the FSC and how it’s improving the label industry’s impact on the world’s forests.   

What Does the FSC Do?

The FSC is a non-profit that advocates responsible management of the world’s forests. Their mission is to promote environmentally sound, socially beneficial and economically prosperous management of the world’s forests. The FSC is a verification process for wood-based products, like paper label materials. Making sure they’re from forests that are managing them in a sustainable way and doesn’t harm the environment is important. The FSC offers two types of certification, Forest Management and Chain-of-Custody. These improve forest management and supply chain practices.

FSC Certifications

Independent FSC-accredited Certification Bodies perform the Forest Management and Chain-of-Custody certifications. Depending on the certification, the certifier will verify that the forest’s management or the company’s chain of custody operations meet the FSC’s principles and criteria. Having third-party verification independent of both the FSC and the companies they audit ensures the integrity of the FSC system.

According to figures from the FSC, as of June 2019, there are:

• 34.5 million acres FSC-certified in the US
• 158.2 million acres FSC-certified in the US and Canada
• 2,529 companies Chain-of-Custody certified in the US
• 3,788 companies Chain-of-Custody certified in the US and Canada
• 7,038 sites FSC-certified in the US

In addition to these two certifications, the FSC also operates global projects like Pest Management, Change Our Fiberboards, and more. This is to achieve its vision for using forest products without compromising forests’ health.

Sustainable FSC Custom Label Materials Gaining Market Share

The label industry moving toward more sustainable practices is evident from the growing use of sustainably-sourced materials. Take for instance Avery Dennison. The global materials science and manufacturing company is expanded its offering of FSC from 150 to more than 500 today.

The number of FSC products will continue to increase as the company works to meet its aggressive sustainability sourcing goal: to source 100 percent certified claim paper products by the year 2025, 70 percent of which must be FSC-certified. To date, Avery Dennison is offering 84% certified paper facestocks, with 78% FSC-certified.

Another example is the label material manufacturer UPM Raflatac. The company launched a new range of FSC certified paper materials in 2019. According to Labels & Labeling, “This announcement takes UPM Raflatac one step closer to achieving its target of sourcing wood fiber from 100 percent certified sources by the year 2030.”

Certainly, these moves toward sustainably-sourced materials show that the label industry is taking environmental concerns seriously.

FSC Label Symbols to Know

In addition to its certification, the FSC has three label symbols found on millions of products from books to food. These symbols help consumers know which products are better for the world’s forests so they can make a more informed buying decision.

• 100%: The wood within the product comes entirely from FSC-certified, well-managed forests.
• Recycled: All of the wood or paper in the product comes from reclaimed or re-used material.
• Mix: The wood within the product is from FSC-certified forests, recycled material, or controlled wood. While not FSC-certified, controlled wood can’t be harvested:
  • illegally
  • while in violation of traditional and civil rights
  • in forests where high conservation values are threatened
  • while in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use
  • in forests that have genetically modified trees

In addition, for a product to have one of these FSC labels, it makes must first receive the Chain-of-Custody certification. Only products that use FSC-certified materials can display the FSC label. It’s important to note that the FSC label only applies to a particular product. Also, this doesn’t mean that all of a company’s products are made from responsibly sourced materials.

Where to Find Sustainable FSC-Certified Papers for Custom Labels

In short, the label industry’s relationship with the environment is a work in progress. However, with research and development of sustainable practices, the future is looking brighter. Although we offer an assortment of FSC-certified papers, always check our portfolio. It’s important to ensure we have an FSC-certified paper for your label application needs. Call 1-800-475-2235 or email [email protected]. In short, let us show how we can help you achieve labels that are better for your business and the environment.