What FSC certified means for paper and print
FSC certification tracks paper fiber from the forest to the printer. This guide explains the three FSC labels, chain of custody, and why FSC works best alongside recycled content.
FSC certified means the fiber in a paper can be traced to forests managed under the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council, or to recycled material, through a documented chain of custody. The FSC is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1993. Its label is one of the most widely recognized marks on paper and printed products.
This guide explains what the label covers, the three types of FSC label, and how to read an FSC claim on a print job.
What the Forest Stewardship Council does
The FSC sets standards for how forests are managed. The standards cover replanting, protection of wildlife and water, and the rights of forest workers and local communities. Forests are audited against those standards by independent certification bodies.
Certification does not stop at the forest. Every company that takes ownership of the material, including the mill, the paper merchant and the printer, must hold its own chain of custody certification for the finished product to carry the FSC label.
The three FSC labels
- FSC 100%. All of the fiber comes from FSC-certified forests.
- FSC Recycled. All of the fiber comes from reclaimed material, such as post-consumer waste paper.
- FSC Mix. The fiber is a combination of material from FSC-certified forests, recycled material and controlled wood. Controlled wood comes from sources that have been checked to exclude the highest-risk categories, such as illegally harvested wood.
Each label carries a license code that links it to a specific certified company, so the claim can be checked.
How chain of custody works
Chain of custody is the record that follows certified material through each step of production. The mill tracks the fiber it buys, the merchant tracks the paper it sells, and the printer tracks the paper used on each job. If any company in the chain is not certified, the chain is broken and the finished piece cannot carry the FSC label.
This is why the label on a printed piece is tied to the printer as well as the paper. When you want the FSC mark on your job, say so when you request a quote so it can be planned into the job.
What FSC does not cover
FSC certification is about where fiber comes from. On its own, it does not tell you how much recycled content a paper has or how it was bleached. A sheet labeled FSC Mix can contain a large share of new fiber.
That is why we look at FSC alongside two other details:
- Post-consumer recycled content, stated as a percentage. This is the part that keeps used paper out of landfills.
- Processed chlorine free (PCF), which means recycled paper made without chlorine or chlorine compounds.
A paper that is FSC certified, high in post-consumer content and processed chlorine free covers all three. Most of the stocks we print on meet that combination. You can see the details for each sheet on our paper stocks page.
FSC, SFI and PEFC
Other forest certification programs exist. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is common in North America, and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) is an international umbrella for national programs. They use different standards and governance. If a quote lists a certification you do not recognize, ask what it covers.
How to read an FSC claim on a quote
- Check which label applies: FSC 100%, FSC Recycled or FSC Mix.
- Ask for the post-consumer recycled content of the paper.
- Ask whether the finished piece will carry the FSC mark, if that matters to you.
- Look for the license code on the label if you need to verify it.
Common questions about FSC certification
Is FSC paper the same as recycled paper?
Not always. FSC Recycled paper is made from reclaimed fiber, but FSC 100% and FSC Mix paper can contain new fiber from certified forests. Check the label and the recycled content.
Does FSC paper cost more?
FSC-certified papers are widely available, and many are priced in line with comparable uncertified papers. The paper grade and finish usually affect price more than the certification does.
Can any printer put the FSC logo on my job?
No. Only printers with FSC chain of custody certification can use the label on a finished piece. Our short answer to what FSC certified means covers this as well.
For more on recycled paper, soy-based inks and chlorine-free processing, read our guide to green printing, or request a quote for your next job.
Products mentioned in this piece
Everything below prints on recycled, FSC-certified stock with soy-based inks. Ask for a quote on any of it.
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