One of the most important choices you will make when you are deciding on material for your next big outdoor project is checking to see whether the lumber you are purchasing is Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified. FSC certified lumber is important because it has been harvested and manufactured in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible, and economically viable manner. A company can become certified by following the strict criteria set by the Forest Stewardship Council.
Humboldt Redwood is honored to have obtained and maintained FSC certification for our forestlands and chain-of-custody certification for our manufacturing and distribution locations since 2009. We take our policies of environmental stewardship very seriously. We consider FSC certification a badge of honor, as well as an affirmation of our forward-thinking, environmentally sustainable policies.
FSC itself does not issue certificates. Rather, a host of certification bodies, independent of the FSC, assess applicants against FSC standards. It is through this independent assessment process that it is determined whether or not specific organizations are awarded FSC certification. This separation of power allows FSC to remain objective and true to its intentions.
Companies and organizations voluntarily adhering to FSC standards can choose to have their forestlands, manufacturing, and distribution operations certified. In order to obtain FSC certification, an organization must fulfill all the aforementioned, applicable guidelines. By creating a rigorous certification process, FSC is able to positively influence logging practices around the world. FSC standards include several forest management guidelines. These standards combine specific rules addressing how a forest and its constituents—flora, fauna, and human—are treated. Those who comply with the policies as they’re laid-out contribute to sustaining the forest and those that live off of it in a responsible, ethical way for years to come.
For more information regarding FSC certification, check out the FSC website. To check the status of a particular certification holder, visit the FSC Public Search tool.