Forest Stewardship Council™ Chain of Custody (FSC CoC) Certification
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Webinar for 2012
To learn more about FSC CoC, attend our FREE webinar. Click on the webinar title below to view details or register.
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What is FSC CoC Certification?
The Forest Stewardship Council ™ (FSC) is an independent, nonprofit organization that was founded in 1993 on the initiatives of representatives from international environmental organizations, wholesalers and retailers of timber, foresters, wood industry, associations of indigenous people, trade unions, and certifications bodies in response to the issue of global deforestration.
The FSC's objective is to promote responsible, sustainable foresting practices, and to help protect forests worldwide. Chain of Custody (CoC) certification tracks FSC-certified material through the supply chain, covering all stages of timber processing, transformation, manufacturing, and distribution. Thus, FSC CoC certification provides the evidence to the final consumer that products made of wood, paper, or other forest products originate from responsibly managed forests, and comply with the ecological, social, and economic requirements of the FSC-certification systems.
CoC certification can also be used to verify compliance with public or private procurement policies and specifications such as credits for the U.S. Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, or the EU Ecolabel scheme for furniture.
Who can be certified?
Chain of custody certification is carried out by an independent, qualified, and accredited certification body such as TÜV SÜD. All processors, manufactures, and traders who take legal possession of the certified products must have the FSC CoC certificate to provide credible guarantee of the origin of wood in the product. CoC certification is not only for processors, traders, distributors of wood, paper or other forest products, but also for the packaging industry and printers.
Certification Options include:
- Single-Site Certification - for smaller organizations
- Group Certification - smaller companies can form groups to make CoC certification accessible where individual certification may be too costly
- Multi-Site Certification - for larger enterprises operating at multiple locations
- FSC Project Certification - for building projects, one-off, and complex products
Benefits of FSC CoC Certification
Obtaining an FSC CoC certification sends a message to the market and to consumers of environmental responsibility, conservation, and compliance to FSC standards and applicable laws. Wood products with FSC CoC certificates have a market advantage in comparison to products whose origin is unclear. FSC CoC certification benefits also include:
- Opening your business up to highly
environmentally sensitive markets and
business where FSC-certified products
are required.
- Allowing easy access to certified
retailers listed on FSC.org's website.
- Helping customers make educated
choices to contribute to responsible
business practices and global
conservation.
- Providing sustainable business by using
sustainable materials.
- Ensuring that suppliers have a legal and
responsible approach.
 Why TÜV SÜD America?
As TÜV SÜD's worldwide competence center for forestry and Chain of Custody (CoC) certifications, TÜV SÜD Czech Republic's Forest and Timber (FaT) department holds accreditations for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification services. TÜV SÜD America has local auditors available to support these standards in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
TÜV SÜD America's
Management Service division is a leading global Certification Body, with
auditors and clients located around the world. In addition to FSC CoC certification, TÜV SÜD offers
environmental services such as ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 50001, Responsible Recycling (R2), Wind Energy, Photovoltaic, and E-Mobility (battery testing) services.
Click here to download our "Forest Steward Council Chain of Custody Certification" brochure in PDF format.
For more information, contact us.
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