FSC certification – A 30-year journey for the green future

FSC certification, or Forest Stewardship Council certification, is a voluntary standard dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forest. After 30 years, FSC has become the most well-known and prevalent certification system in the world. In today’s article, AMC Vietnam will discuss about this incredible journey from FSC.

1. The formation and development of FSC

• The forest crisis era (1980s–1990s)

Deforestation reached an alarming level in the 1980s. For every minute went by, an area of forest equivalent to 36 football fields had been destroyed by humans. In Brazil, plantations and livestock farms are replacing the Amazon rainforest. For months, Southeast Asian sky have been blanketed in smoke from wildfires in Indonesia.

In 1990, a group of environmentalists, entrepreneurs, and social activists gathered in California, USA to find solutions to this alarming situation. “We cannot stand by and watch the ancient forests disappear; we need a global solution.””, Mr. Thomas Wilson, one of the pioneers, spoke at this historic meeting

• The foundation of FSC (1993 – 1994)

On October 7, 1993, in Toronto, Canada, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) was officially established. This is the result of a lengthy negotiation process involving 130 representatives from 26 countries, including environmental organizations such as WWF, Greenpeace, businesses, and local communities.

Mrs. Maria Rodriguez, a representative of the Amazon indigenous community, said after this historic meeting: “For the first time in history, the voices of the indigenous people were heard in deciding the future of the forests.” We are not just talking about protecting trees, but also about protecting the culture and lives of millions of people.”

• The development and expansion phase (1994 – 2000)

In 1996, FSC reached a significant milestone by issuing its first certificate for a forest in Mexico. “It was an emotional day”, said Juan Martinez, the manager of the first forest that received the FSC certification. “We have proven that it is possible to harvest wood while still protecting the forest.”

• The global expansion era (2000 – 2010)

In the early 2000s, FSC began to be recognized by major corporations, marking the start of a decade of global expansion. The number of FSC certificates is increasing rapidly, from hundreds to thousands. In 2007, FSC held a global conference in Bonn, Germany, gathering leaders from various countries and organizations. This event not only affirms the importance of FSC but also creates an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences and seek solutions to the challenges in sustainable forest management.

Starting with Amazon, one of the largest tropical forests in the world, which has begun to adopt FSC standards, opening a new direction for forest protection. To Home Depot – the world’s largest home improvement retailer, in 2000, after pressure from environmental organizations, Home Depot committed to selling only FSC-certified wood products. These decisions have created a domino effect in the global wood industry.

• Digital transformation stage (2010 – now)

In the past 10 years, FSC has faced new challenges such as climate change, the increasing demand for wood products, and the rise in illegal logging. To adapt, FSC has updated the standards and procedures to enhance sustainability.

In 2013, FSC made a breakthrough by launching the electronic traceability system. “Now, with just a smartphone, consumers can know which forest the wood products they buy come from,” said Mr. Michael Green, FSC Chief Technology Officer.

In 2020, FSC announced the “2021-2025 Strategic Plan,” which set specific goals to expand the certification network and raise community awareness about the importance of forest protection. Notably, the success of the collaboration models between FSC and some large enterprises like IKEA, where they commit to using 100% sustainably sourced wood, contributes to creating a positive wave in the wood industry.

By 2023, FSC has been present in over 100 countries, managing more than 200 million hectares of certified forests. Also in this year, FSC began testing a blockchain system for tracking product journeys. “This is a revolution in forest management,” said Mr. Michael Chen, Director of the FSC Blockchain Project. “With blockchain, each piece of wood will have a digital ‘passport’ that cannot be forged or altered.”

2. The lesson and future potential

Looking back at FSC’s 30-year journey, we can see the power of multilateral cooperation in addressing global environmental issues. From an initiative born out of crisis, FSC has become the gold standard in sustainable forest management.

As Mr. Thomas Wilson, who attended the first meeting in 1990, said during the 30th anniversary of FSC: “We dreamed of a day when forests would be protected, local communities would be respected, and businesses would continue to thrive.” Today, that dream is gradually becoming a reality.

The future of FSC will be closely tied to new challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and digitalization. But with a solid foundation of 30 years of experience, FSC is in a good position to continue its mission of global forest protection and promoting sustainable development.