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What is FSC Certified Wood?
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In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know about FSC-certified wood. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization promoting responsible forestry and sustainable wood cultivation.
They set strict standards to ensure that the wood certified by them is sourced eco-friendly and socially responsible. By buying FSC-certified wood products, you’re supporting sustainable forestry, the preservation of biological diversity, the protection of wild animal habitats, and more.
Why is FSC Important?
Buying FSC-certified wood is important as sustainably sourced wood that comes from forests that meet FSC requirements does not contribute to damaging forests and natural habitats.
In responsibly managed forests you won’t find bare patches of land where trees used to grow. When an oil tree is chopped, a new tree is planted, so the forest continues to grow sustainably and biodiversity is protected. FSC is dedicated to protecting the environment, and making the planet safer and healthier for humans and animals.
Is FSC Wood More Expensive?
The quick answer is not always. FSC certification does mean a business can charge premiums of on average 10% to 20% more for their products. However, with some products, it actually may be cheaper to buy FSC wood thanks to the shorter chain of members involved. By that, I mean the number of hands your wood goes through decreases when you buy FSC-certified wood.
The conventional, non-certified wood usually has a mystery supplier and source, so you don’t know how many people have already made a profit on the handling of it. With FSC wood, you know where your wood comes from, who oversees its production, and how it ended up in your hands. Thus, the profit margin can be decreased on certain items, making them cheaper for you to purchase.
Why You Should Buy FSC-Certified Furniture:
- Zero deforestation: There’s no loss of forest over time even though the trees are harvested.
- Environmental protection: They protect biodiversity and old-growth forests to keep high conservation.
- Indigenous people’s rights respected: They maintain cultural rights and consult and engage the forest inhabitants.
- Fair wage and work environment for workers: The workers of FSC-certified companies are given safety training, general training, and decent wages.
Best FSC-Certified Products for Your Home:
- Medley Home: This company specializes in eco-friendly, non toxic furniture. They’re dedicated to giving you quality and comfort, but not at the expense of your health or the planet’s. They source their wood domestically from FSC-certified woods and handcraft everything in California in 6-8 weeks. You get a 100-day trial of your purchases, with free returns. Their furniture is free from harsh chemicals, fire retardants, and is all solid wood furniture. They use no composite wood such as MDF or plywood.
- Avocado Mattress: This company uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and FSC-certified wood. They make mattresses, bedding, bases, pillows, and furniture, and they even have an original children’s book that teaches the importance of caring for our planet. They are passionate about your comfort and the earth, so they want to unite luxury and sustainability. Their products are handmade in LA with a 25-year warranty. They use organic cotton, wool, and latex.
- Staples Paper Products: They offer a huge variety of paper options. You can find any kind you need, from color copy paper and premium laser print paper to recycled copy paper and multipurpose paper. The paper is manufactured sustainably.
Best Alternative to FSC-Certified Products: Reclaimed Wood Furniture
Reclaimed wood is rich in charm, character, and history. Think of it as “mature” wood. Structures, like old barns, wine casts, factories, etc, are made with virgin wood. Those structures will eventually be demolished and then that wood is “reclaimed” and ingeniously reused in other ways. The upcycled wood can then be made into beautiful furniture, beams for your ceiling, flooring, and unique timepieces for your home.
Online shops like Avocado offer most of those items, plus things like custom side tables and bed frames. The benefits of using reclaimed wood instead of virgin wood are huge. You not only get the rich history and cheaper sourcing, but you may also find that you can use guilt-free exotic wood! You will also be using a more “mature”, thus more durable, weathered wood that has shown its strength through time. If you treat it well, this wood can be valuable and useful for years to come.
What Do FSC Labels Mean?
- FSC 100%: This means the material is only sourced from FSC-certified forests. This is the best option.
- FSC Recycled: This label means the products are made from 100% recycled materials.
- FSC Mix: Far from being lower quality, this simply means the output of labeled material fits exactly with the input of materials from certified forests and controlled sources. They use at least 70% recycled materials.
Why is FSC Wood Good for the Environment?
There are many reasons why FSC-certified wood is good for the environment. Here are a few:
- Protects water quality by preserving forests. Forests naturally aid to filter streams and rivers, etc.
- Protects forest ecology by careful, nature-guided harvesting techniques
- Prohibits deforestation.
- Protects endangered species of plants and animals.
- Preserves old-growth forests.
- Restricts the use of highly hazardous chemicals.
What Products Can Be FSC Certified?
A whole range of products can be FSC certified from personal and home care items to office supplies. If a company partners with FSC and follows the regulations, you may find some of these products to be FSC certified:
- Paper
- Furniture
- Lumber
- Tissues
- Toilet paper
- Bassinet pads
- File folders
- Product packaging
- Pencils
- Facial cleansing wipes
- Paper towels
- Books
- Labels
Conclusion
When buying products made from wood, it’s important to pay attention to where that wood comes from. If it’s from an FSC-certified source, you can be sure that you making an eco-friendly choice to help protect forests and biological diversity.
Consider buying FSC-certified products for your home, such as solid wood bed frames, solid wood futon frames, FSC certified mattress foundations, and eco-friendly furniture.
About the Author Kamila Flieger
My name is Kamila, and I'm passionate about researching non-toxic, organic products for the home. I believe it's so important to create a safe and healthy environment for our families, and I enjoy helping others do the same.
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