What Does "FSC-Certified" Mean?

Products like decking or outdoor patio furniture labeled as FSC-certified means the Forest Stewardship Council guarantees the item meets its gold standard for ethical production. This seal certifies the wood is harvested from responsibly managed, socially beneficial, environmentally conscious, and economically viable forests.

Why You Should Consider FSC-Certified Furniture

Scientists suggest that after the last Ice Age, 10,000 years ago, forests covered nearly 60% of the Earth. Now, forests cover 30% of the global land area. Trees protect the planet from global warming by absorbing the Earth's carbon dioxide emissions and converting them into oxygen. Forests also cool the planet by providing shade and transpiring water.

The FSC is an international non-profit organization that sets specific high standards to ensure that forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible and socially beneficial manner. Consumers who want to go green should consider using sustainable garden furniture and products. 

"You can find the FSC tree-and-checkmark logo on certain wood and paper products at major home improvement and office supply retailers," says Jack Hurd, director of The Nature Conservancy's forest trade program. In addition, he suggests contacting your favorite stores to ask about stocking FSC-certified products and telling your friends and family to ask for FSC.

How an FSC Certification Helps Preserve Rainforests

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), something as seemingly benign as hardwood garden furniture might contribute to the destruction of the world's most valuable rainforests.

The United States is the world’s largest importer of tropical wooden furniture from timber-producing countries. Of those imports, garden furniture represents approximately one-fifth of the wooden furniture market. U.S. imports of all tropical wood products have increased over the past few decades. Formerly rich forests in countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil are being depleted at an unprecedented rate.

A major cause of deforestation is the legal and illegal logging of remaining primary forests to meet the growing need for tropical wood products. At current deforestation rates, the remaining biodiversity-rich natural forests in South American, Asian, and African countries could disappear within a decade.

Prized for their beauty and durability, some rainforest species are illegally harvested for outdoor furnishings. "Buying FSC-certified outdoor furniture helps support sustainable forest management, which reduces the emission of greenhouse gases and protects wildlife habitat,” the WWF maintains. 

Understanding FSC Labels

Look for products that carry the FSC certification and, ideally, are made from FSC woods—like eucalyptus—harvested in the local economy where the furniture was made.

While the FSC makes a somewhat complicated process and the chains of supply easier to understand for consumers, it helps to know what the three labels on most products mean:

• FSC 100%: Products come from FSC-certified forests. 
• FSC recycled: The wood or paper in a product comes from reclaimed material.
• FSC mixed: A mix means at least 70% of the wood in a product comes from FSC-certified or recycled material, while 30% is made of controlled wood.

Searching for Products in the FSC Database

To easily track down the right sustainable products, the Global FSC Certificate Database provides a Product Classification tool to research and identify import and export companies of certified materials and products.

The tool helps you find certified companies or select a product type, like "outdoor furniture and gardening" or "veneer," along with certificate status, the name of an organization, country, etc. It outputs a list of companies, descriptions of products, country of origin, and other details to help you find a FSC-certified product or check if the certification has lapsed.

Second- and third-level searches will help you refine a search for a FSC-certified product. A Product Data tab provides more details about the types of materials included in the certificate or certified products.