Hi everyone!
It’s Jess here today talking about our paper and more importantly where it comes from!
Sometimes, we have to put the fun of creating to one side and talk serious… especially when it comes to the environment. As you know, sustainability is a massive part of Pukka Pads which is why we feel it is important for you to know where we source our products from. So sit tight, and we hope you learn something new!
What is FSC?
You may have seen the term FSC thrown around a lot when it comes to paper, and especially on our products! But you may also be wondering, what actually is FSC, and why is it so important?
FSC (or The Forest Stewardship Council) is a global non-profit organisation that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests and everything within them. FSC audits and certifies forests all over the world to ensure they meet the highest environmental and social standards.
But it’s not all about the trees. FSC Certified forests also provide environmental, social, and economic benefits to those that live and work there too. This means the needs of the present generation are met without compromising those of future generations.
How does it work?
Forests around the world are inspected and marked against strict standards based on FSC’s 10 Principles of Forest Stewardship.
These are undertaken by external organisations and accredited by FSC. Only if forests meet these standards, will they be given certification and allowed to carry the FSC label. This label means that the product you are buying is made with, or contains, forest-based materials from FSC-certified forests or reclaimed sources.
How do I know if a product is FSC certified or not?
A product can only be FSC certified if it is made with or contains forest-based products, so look out for products like notebooks, garden furniture, sheds, flooring, doors, tissue, pencils, etc!
Products made with wood and paper from FSC forests are marked with the ‘tick tree’ logo. When you see this logo, you can be confident that buying won’t mean harming the world’s forests.
In addition to the forest certification, the FSC system includes a chain of custody that tracks materials and products through every stage in the supply chain. This is monitored through the invoicing process and the final label on the products has a code that confirms it is authentic.
Why choose FSC-certified products?
There are so many reasons to choose FSC-certified products over non-FSC-certified products. But to summarise, we have noted a few of these below –
- You can buy wood products with a clear conscience when you see the FSC logo.
- The FSC label ensures that the harvested trees are replaced or allowed to regenerate naturally.
- Parts of the forest are protected entirely, to protect rare animals and plants.
- FSC is the only wood certification scheme endorsed by major environmental charities including WWF and The Woodland Trust.
- FSC protects the rights of indigenous people and their sacred sites.
- The forest owners must use local workers to run the forest and provide training, safety equipment, and a decent salary. The owners are also often obliged to support the community in other ways, such as through the development of schools.
So I hope you found this useful and it helps explain a little more about what FSC certification means, and why we only use FSC-certified paper in all of our products.
If you would like to read further on the topic, you can find plenty of information on the FSC website.
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