An increasing number of companies around the globe are publishing corporate sustainability reports. However a new trend is emerging. Progressive companies are going further by voluntarily disclosing their overall corporate carbon footprint Read more

The visibility of the FSC label among Russian consumers is growing as FSC-labelled juice packages are launched across Russia. PepsiCo, the world’s second biggest manufacturer of foods and beverages, has teamed up with Tetra Pak around FSC-labelling of the packaging used for its J7 juice brand in the Russian market. The first labelled cartons appeared in Russian stores in April 2012 Read more

Companies can now increase the market exposure of their FSC-certified products for free using the Rainforest Alliance’s new online “Shop the Frog” directory. This service is available to any company labeling their consumer-facing products with the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal and was developed to help consumers more easily find responsibly sourced products Read more

The recent report “Justice for Forests” calls for improvements in criminal justice systems to halt the widespread scourge of illegal logging. According to the World Bank, it is a serious offense involving massive sums and often orchestrated by organised gangs. As such, forest crime should be properly investigated and convictions must take place. Anti-money laundering regimes may be part of the solution Read more

It is unquestionably the most important document within the FSC certification system, and this year, the Principles and Criteria have undergone the most valiant alterations yet. The approval of the revised document signifies a point in FSC’s history, where engagement by stakeholders is at an all-time high and its system is evolving with the times Read more

The first live training course focusing on FSC auditing has been endorsed as fulfilling the formal requirements for training of FSC auditors. For those aspiring to become an auditor, the training can replace the otherwise required ISO training, which does not focus on FSC or forestry. Jointly developed by the Rainforest Alliance and NEPCon, the training offers comprehensive insight into the inner workings of the FSC system Read more

The launch of the FSC marketplace is fast approaching and will serve as a one-stop market platform for buyers and suppliers of FSC certified products. The long-awaited international initiative is currently being tested across 10 counties and businesses are encouraged take advantage of this marketing opportunity Read more

In its “Government Barometer 2012”, WWF criticises EU member states for being too reluctant when it comes to on-the-ground actions that they are expected to carry out to halt the flow of illegal timber into the EU. According to WWF, national governments are making inadequate efforts to address illegal logging through public procurement, FLEGT and the EU Timber Regulation Read more

In May 2012, a three-year initiative that has propelled FSC to explore how its system could be adapted to include contractors, will draw to a close. Certification of contractors could alleviate some of the challenges faced by small forest owners pursuing forest certification, leveraging a largely untouched and valuable market in Europe Read more