The Forestry Stewardship Council

It is perhaps no secret that here at CRANBOURN^®, we are dedicated to preserving the planet and protecting communities and workers’ rights. Right from the get-go, it has been of the utmost importance to us to prioritise transparency, ethical practices and sustainability in everything we do.

As well as joining the B Corp movement, we also support The Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). You might spot this certification on products you buy or websites you browse, so we wanted to give you some more information about what this means.

The FSC is an international non-profit organisation, founded back in 1933. Its role is to monitor and ensure the responsible management of the world’s forests – one of the most crucial natural resources humanity has. With deforestation causing devastation globally, the FSC’s job has never been more important.

The FSC aims to protect and care for not only our forests but all of the incredibly diverse wildlife and people that call them home. To do this, they run a global forest certification system.

Caring for our forests

Our forests support life on this planet. An overwhelming number of species and communities live harmoniously and thrive in our forests, so organisations like the FSC work to ensure that businesses do not irreversibly damage this.

One of the main indicators of the FSC’s good work is its endorsements. They are supported by major environmental charities like WWF and The Woodland Trust, highlighting the incredible efforts and wonderful work they do. When you spot the FSC label, it means you can trust that any trees used have been replaced or naturally regenerated.

FSC demands that forest owners and managers have to use local workers and care for them, providing any necessary training, equipment, safety measures and a living wage. It is encouraged that the forest owner also supports the local community on a deeper level, by helping to develop education. Some areas of forest are entirely exempt from any felling, to help protect indigenous sacred sites or rare flora and fauna.

The FSC certification

There are two parts to the FSC certification – forest management and chain of custody.

The first is a voluntary certification for forest owners, and it involves an audit by an independent organisation to look into how the forest is managed. If it meets all the requirements, their timber can then carry the FSC stamp.

The chain of custody certification applies more directly to the products you buy daily. It ensures that the products are checked at every single stage, from forest to end-user. This essentially means that when you purchase an FSC-certified product, you know it has been meticulously monitored throughout every part of the process.

The FSC system encourages sustainable shopping

Next time you are out shopping, keep an eye out for the FSC logo. You will be able to find it on any wood or paper products, and printed packaging. If you cannot spot the symbol, it means that the brand or business has not necessarily sourced its materials in a sustainable, ethical or planet-friendly way.

As a business, we are proud to support the FSC. We want to consistently meet our customers’ high expectations and uphold our strong values. Preserving the planet’s natural resources is a topic close to our hearts. You can find out more about the CRANBOURN^® mission to create sustainable luxury fragrance products here.