WHO IS THE FSC?

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is a global, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the promotion of responsible forest management worldwide. FSC defines standards based on agreed principles for responsible forest stewardship that are supported by environmental, social and economic stakeholders. To learn more, visit www.fsc.org.

WHO IS THE PEFC?

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international organisation working to promote sustainable forest management. The PEFC is the biggest global forest certification system and works with hundreds of thousands of independent forest owners to maintain its internationally recognised benchmark for sustainability.

WHAT DO THE FSC & PEFC DO?

Both the FSC and PEFC set strict standards for countries and businesses using wood and paper to ensure our forests are protected from the impact of deforestation. As part of this work, the FSC and PEFC are responsible for:

  • Limiting the use of dangerous chemicals in forests, so that the air and water of nearby communities is always clean and safe.
  • Ensuring forest owners use harvesting and forestry practices that reduce the risk of degradation and erosion.
  • Monitoring the range of trees, plants and animals in each forest and ensuring there’s a diverse selection of these.
  • Ensuring forest owners are providing jobs to local communities.
  • Monitoring working conditions in forests to ensure workers are safe and their rights are prioritised.

FAQS

How do FSC and PEFC certifications work?

Both FSC and PEFC provide Chain of Custody Certification (COC) which is independent evidence that wood or paper products are sourced from well-managed, certified forests.

COC provides an unbroken chain from the origin of a product (i.e. the forest) the whole way through the manufacturing process until the very end when it reaches the customer.

The FSC and PEFC keep a close eye on our supply chain and records to make sure we’re maintaining their responsible forestry standards. This includes:

  • Checking where our materials are sourced from
  • Ensuring all our FSC floors have a clear COC
  • Confirming our FSC floors are stored separately from floors that aren't yet certified
  • Ensuring all record keeping is accurate
  • Checking that the FSC/PEFC logos are used correctly

Why aren’t all your products FSC certified?

While all our suppliers adhere to sustainable practices, it will take time to gain official certification across our whole product range, due to the cost and logistics involved. There are lots of tests and processes that suppliers need to go through before they and their floors can be FSC certified.

We’ve supported several of our manufacturers through FSC certification and we’re actively working to expand the number of FSC floors in our collection.

Why do your FSC floors cost more?

Our FSC certified floors undergo rigorous tracing, testing and auditing to ensure they meet the standard required for certification. These additional steps increase costs for our suppliers and manufacturers, which is why the price for these accredited floors is a bit higher.