Certification

Credible certification is the stamp of Good Wood. It's your guarantee that a forest or plantation is well managed and meets recognised international environmental and social standards.

Certification is an inspection process that assesses the quality of forest management on the ground, and tracks timber and wood products through a chain of custody, from raw material to finished item.

Standards of certification vary and many industry schemes are simply 'greenwash'. So it's best to choose timber certified to the internationally recognised standards of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) promotes responsible management of the world's forests. It sets the international standard for credible forest management and chain of custody certification. Its forest certification system remains the most widely recognised and best regarded in the world. The FSC has certified more than 100 million hectares of forest and plantations in 80 countries since 1993. It is an independent, non-profit, non-government organisation.

Greenpeace works with the FSC to ensure it continues to provide a credible guarantee and to promote it to consumers as a solution to forest destruction.

Why FSC is a credible scheme:

• It makes a difference in the forest. FSC is the only international certification and labelling system which uses globally recognised performance standards.
• It is an independent third-party scheme with rigorous, transparent and participatory assessments .
• It is supported by a broad range of key environmental organisations, social movements and economic players, as well as consumers.

Responsibly harvested wood bearing the Forest Stewardship Council logo

Credibly certified forest and plantation products guarantee that:

• Forests are well managed to ensure continued benefits for future generations, with biodiversity maintained and minimal impact on soils and waterways.
• The rights of indigenous people are protected.
• Forest management is legal and does not use genetically modified organisms.
• Local communities living in or close to the forest benefit from its management and use.

Before buying timber, ask your merchant if it is FSC certified. FSC wood may carry the distinctive FSC 'green tree' logo shown here.

Recycled timber

Recycled or salvaged timber is another option for consumers. It is important to ask your timber supplier for documented verification to prove where it is from.