Sustainable forest management is very important. By now, you’ve probably heard of or seen lumber, board products, furniture, and even clothing that is FSC Certified. In fact, if you look at the packaging on a roll of Ram Board, you’ll see the FSC logo. But what is FSC Certification and why is it important?
What is FSC Certification?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent non-profit that was founded in 1993 in an effort to improve the way forests are harvested for products. They set the standards for forest products and assess forest management and chain of custody operations. Today, the FSC is represented in over 80 countries and, as of 2022, has certified over 160 million acres of forest in the US and Canada alone.
The purpose of the FSC is to set forest management standards that not only prohibit deforestation, but also help to protect wildlife and drinking water sources. The certification of a product by the FSC means that it meets the highest standard of production from a sustainably managed forest.
How FSC-certified materials help sustainable forestry
According to the FSC, forests cover 30 percent of the global land area. Not only are forests home to 70 percent of land animals and plants, but a large portion of the world’s population also depends on forests for necessities like food and shelter. Unfortunately, tens of millions of forest acres are lost yearly. FSC Certified forests maintain certain standards that promote conservation and minimize environmental impact.
Just think about how much wood products are used for new housing developments. Not only is lumber needed for framing, siding, doors, cabinets, hardwood floors, and any other wood finishes, but there are also paper products, like cardboard used to ship supplies, floor protection board like Ram Board, and countless other products used that once came from trees.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average size of a home in 2021 was 2,356 square feet. If you do the math, a large pine tree can yield about 754 board feet. If a single-family home requires around 6.3 board feet for every square foot, that means an average house uses almost 20 trees, just for framing. You can expect to double that for all the finishing touches. For a community of 50 homes, that is 2,000 trees from start to finish.
Buying FSC–certified paper and lumber means the forests that supply the wood are managed in a sustainable way – protected from deforestation and excessive clearcutting. Other FSC products, like Ram Board, can be used from recycled materials so no new trees are cut down to produce them.
Understanding different FSC labels
When looking for FSC–certified products, there are three different certification labels you might see.
- FSC 100%: All materials used in a product come from FSC–certified forests.
- FSC Recycled: The product is made from 100% recycled materials.
- FSC Mixed: Products are made with a mixture of materials from FSC–certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood.
Why should you buy FSC–certified products?
In the construction world, the US Green Building Council’s LEED program certifies buildings on four levels – certified, silver, gold, and platinum – based on the number of points a project gets. Especially in urban areas, developers are focusing on greener buildings. FSC–certified wood and other building materials help contribute points to LEED.
Enhance your business and the world’s forests with FSC-certified products
Responsible forest management is good not only for the environment but also for your business. With the demand for green, sustainable, and eco-friendly products growing and many global brands switching to FSC certificate holders and supply chains, buying products that are FSC certified is a smart choice.
Ram Board, the trusted name in heavy-duty floor protection, is FSC certified. Our rolls of durable paperboard material are made with 100% recycled material, which means that using our product not only helps contribute to LEED points on a job, but it also reduces the amount of trees harvested for a project. Plus, our board is reusable, making it the environmentally friendly choice of floor protection. For more information and to see our full line of products, such as stair protectors and door jamb protectors, visit our catalog.