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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
label guidelines for paper
and envelopes
You can print the FSC label directly onto your project to promote the environmental qualities of the paper. The FSC Chain of Custody must be maintained for you to print the FSC label, the initials "FSC," or the phrase "Forest Stewardship Council." Only when an FSC-certified party buys paper and envelopes manufactured by an FSC-certified supplier, buys from an FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) distributor and uses an FSC-certified printer may you print the valuable FSC label.
The Paper Mill Store is FSC CoC certified and several of our suppliers manufacture FSC-certified paper, including CTI Paper USA, Finch Paper, Mohawk Fine Paper, Monadnock Paper Mills, Neenah Paper, Smart Papers and Wausau Paper. In addition, we have a wide selection of FSC envelopes.
What is FSC?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international network existing to promote responsible management of the world's forests. The FSC label identifies products which contain wood from well-managed forests certified in accordance with the rules of the FSC, which ensure that people, wildlife and the environment benefit from the forestry practices. FSC certification is globally recognized as being the most credible and strongest system for ensuring well-managed forests.
Why use the FSC label?
Printing on FSC-certified papers and envelopes is an effective way to demonstrate your, or your client's, commitment to sustainability. As customers and shareholders become increasingly concerned about where and how products are made, they are demanding that companies use products that come from sustainable and responsible sources. Printing on FSC-certified papers and envelopes saves forests, protects wildlife habitats, keeps water clean and protects the rights of local communities and aboriginal peoples worldwide.
How to use the FSC label:
To use the FSC label on a printed piece, your substrate must be tracked through the FSC chain of custody. This means the forest, paper producer, paper distributor, printer and purchaser (if other than printer) must all be FSC certified. When you buy FSC certified paper or envelopes from The Paper Mill Store, you can be assured the chain of custody has been maintained up until, and through, distribution.
The FSC-certified printer will provide the FSC label artwork, customized with the printer's FSC Certification code and any necessary recycled content percentage. The printer is responsible for getting approval on the label usage. Below are some samples of the labels your printer can use.
FSC labels are available in portrait and landscape as:
- Full color positive (PMS 378 and CMYK versions available)
- Black and white positive
- Full color negative (PMS 378 and CMYK versions available)
- Black and white negative
- Exceptional size circumstances
Note: Your FSC certified printer can provide you with complete FSC labeling guidelines, including size and clear space requirements, guidelines for inserting Certification codes and recycled content percentage and infringements to avoid.
Samples of FSC Labels:
FSC 100% label: Products with a 100% FSC label come from forests certified as being in compliance with the environmental and social standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
FSC Mixed Sources label: Products with a Mixed Sources label support the development of responsible forest management worldwide. The wood comes from FSC certified well-managed forests, company controlled sources and/or recycled material. Company controlled sources are controlled, in accordance with FSC standards, to exclude illegally harvested lumber, forests where high conservation values are threatened, genetically modified organisms, violation of people's civil and traditional rights and wood from forests harvested for the purpose of converting the land to plantations or other non-forest use. The recycling symbol identifies post-consumer recycled content in these products.
FSC Recycled label: Products with a 100% Recycled label support re-use of forest resources and in accordance with FSC standards only use post-consumer recycled wood or fiber.
Example of how an Exceptional Size
FSC label might be constructed
FSC Labeling - Exceptional Circumstances, Below Minimum Size: In the event of exceptional circumstances due to the size of the product, where the application of the FSC label at minimum size is not possible, a request for authorization may be made to label the product with the following elements: the FSC label, label title, abbreviated copyright claim and Certification code number.
Examples of FSC labeling on printed pieces:
World Wildlife Fund Annual Report
McDonald’s Corporate Responsibility Report
© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council
