Forest Stewardship Council
The FSC chain of custody (CoC) is the path taken by products from the forest, or in the case of recycled materials from the moment when the material is reclaimed, to the point where the product is sold with an FSC claim and/or it is finished and FSC labelled. The CoC includes each stage of sourcing, processing, trading, and distribution where progress to the next stage of the supply chain involves a change of product ownership.
Any change of ownership in the supply chain of FSC-certified products requires the establishment of effective CoC management systems at the level of the respective organization and their verification by an independent FSC-accredited certification body, if the organization wants to make an FSC claim about their products.
FSC certification of such management systems is designed to provide a credible assurance that products which are sold with an FSC claim originate from well-managed forests, controlled sources, reclaimed materials, or a mixture of these. FSC CoC certification thereby facilitates the transparent flow of goods made from such materials through the supply chain.
Requirements of FSC CoC
Part I: Universal Requirements
Part II: Control of FSC Claims
Part III: Supplementary Requirements
Part IV: Eligibility Criteria for Single, Multi-Site and Group CoC Certification
Benefits of FSC CoC
Only FSC CoC certified operations are allowed to label products with the FSC Trademarks. The FSC label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.
Other benefits for a company with FSC CoC certified products include:
- Improved market access in an increasingly environmentally aware sector.
- Demonstrate that you take the environmental concerns of your customers seriously.
- Compliance with public or private procurement policies and specifications such as the EU Ecolabel scheme for furniture, or the U.S. Green Building Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.
How Can BSCS Help?
We provide FSC CoC training and consultancy services. We offer specialized expertise and extensive practical experience to assist client in developing management systems from the initial concept to establishment and successful implementation of the management systems.
We use the following consultation approach to assist you in achieving certification:
- Identify areas requiring improvement or development within your current Management System
- Prepare a strategic action plan, in conjunction with your company personnel, to address those improvement areas and assist with the communication of these requirements to key personnel at all levels
- Provide system-related trainings for your company personnel to create awareness and provide them with the necessary knowledge and skills in the implementation of systems
- Provide assistance and advice on the development and implementation of systems, including preparation of documentation
- Advise and assist, if required, with the preparation and submission of applications to your certification body
- Assist with the development of internal auditing procedures and training
- Conduct internal audit to ensure the effective implementation of the management system prior to final audit by your certification body
- Conduct Management Review Meeting to review performance of management system and identify areas for improvement prior to final audit by your certification body