Inspired by my work, I’ve paid a lot of attention to the environmental, origin and sustainability labels on various wood-based consumer products when I’m shopping. There are various markings and logos, and more and more products carry the FSC tree logo. But what does that logo really tell us?
FSC is a globally recognised certification system for responsible forest management. In the forest, it primarily means environmental sustainability, but it also covers aspects of social and economic responsibility. FSC comprises the entire value chain from the forest to the end product such as cardboard packaging.
FSC-certified wood is a sought-after raw material among Metsä Group’s customers in certain markets and for certain products, especially food packaging and other high-quality paperboard products. For customers in some markets, FSC-certified wood is practically a prerequisite for entering the market. In the current global market situation, FSC certification can therefore offer a real competitive advantage.
FSC wood’s strong position in the end-product market means that in wood sales, FSC-certified wood is in great demand. This is why we offer our cooperative's contract customers FSC certification as a member benefit. It’s also why we pay quite a lot more for FSC-certified wood.
From the forest owner’s perspective, a customised FSC forest plan is also a valuable benefit. Among other things, as required by the FSC, it defines the sites valuable for biodiversity and water protection, which are reviewed with the forest owner. We have received praise from the forest owners in our FSC group for how the FSC has increased their understanding of their own forests and strengthened their relationship with their own forest specialist.
FSC certification focuses on the forest’s nature values: the forest owner excludes at least 5 per cent of their forestland from commercial forestry activities. This 5 per cent includes sites protected under the Forest Act or the Nature Conservation Act, buffer zones around waterbodies, and forests with natural features.
In addition, special treatment areas are defined that promote biodiversity or diversify the structure of forests by continuous cover forestry or deciduous wood-dominated forests, for example. In total, at least 10 per cent of the forest area must be defined as sites of restricted use.
FSC is an excellent way for forest owners to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable forestry while benefiting financially. Now is an especially good time for our contract customers to join Metsä Group’s FSC group, as we have increased the additional price paid for each cubic metre of FSC-certified wood.
Logo license of Metsäliitto Cooperative's FSC group certification: FSC-C111942