fsc Controlled wood

 
FSC Controlled Wood is wood whose origin has been verified to ensure that it does not come  from illegal or controversial sources. Controlled Wood (CW) certified products are increasingly in demand by FSC-certified companies who are using this material in their ‘FSC-mixed’ production. On these pages, you can learn more about how to become a controlled wood supplier as well as how you can source controlled wood inputs for your FSC production.

WHAT IS controlled wood?

Controlled Wood must meet the following basic requirements: 1) The origin of the material must be known; and 2) The wood must not come from sources classified as controversial by the FSC. The FSC system defines five categories of controversial material:

• Illegally harvested wood
• Wood harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights
• Wood harvested in forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities
• Wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non- forest use
• Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted.

DO YOU NEED A CONTROLLED WOOD CERTIFICATE?

To meet increasing demands, a growing number of companies are implementing a combined FSC COC/CW certificate. Controlled wood certification can only be obtained in conjunction with an FSC chain of custody certificate.

sourcing of controlled wood inputs for your fsc production

Companies which are chain of custody certified and using the FSC credit or percentage system also need to comply with the requirements of the FSC Controlled Wood standard when mixing non-certified material with FSC material in their FSC-mixed production. Buyers of non-certified raw material for use in FSC products need to ensure that the non-certified material is controlled.

This can be achieved in two ways: The more simple option is to purchase already verified FSC Controlled Wood from certified suppliers. The more challenging option for companies is to carry out control of the material's status themselves. This involves documenting the wood origin, preparing a risk assessment and for some areas also conducting field audits.