FSC Chain of Custody Certification
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international certification system that recognizes the highest levels of environmentally and socially responsible forest management. FSC certification is a voluntary, market-based system that allows companies to promote their products as deriving from well-managed forests. By holding an FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate, companies earn the right to market and sell products as being FSC Certified and to affiliate themselves with the Forest Stewardship Council.
To earn FSC Chain of Custody certification, companies must develop and implement procedures that cover all of the elements of the relevant FSC standard. Companies must account for their purchase of certified material, their inventory, their manufacturing procedures, determination of FSC claims, use of logos, as well as sales, invoicing and recordkeeping procedures.
The standards allow for a variety of different systems and, therefore, FSC CoC programs range from very simple to very complex, depending on the nature of the operation. For instance, there are separate CoC standards addressing companies with multiple facilities, the outsourcing of production, “controlled wood” and the verification of recycled content.
Why Choose SCS?
SCS is one of the world’s leading FSC certifiers and one of its founding members. We pride ourselves on possessing an intimate knowledge of the FSC protocols and have a dedicated professional staff to guide clients through the certification process. We are very focused on customer service and, as such, we are typically able to contract with companies, deploy our auditors to the field and make certification decisions within a 6-8 week timeframe.
With well-established FSC Chain of Custody programs in Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sweden, SCS has certified more than 2,000 companies across the globe. Plus, in 2009, SCS became the leading FSC certification body in the United States.
Once your company is certified, SCS will provide ongoing support for the program, including information about new and revised FSC requirements, a superior logo approval system with quick turnaround times and ongoing staff assistance.
Certification Assessment Process
- Application
The first step toward certification is to complete the application form. An SCS staff member can provide you with all of the documentation relevant to your particular type of operation and will prepare a detailed proposal for your signature.
- Procedures and Desk Audit
The next step is for you to create a set of procedures that demonstrate how you will track FSC products through your operation. SCS will provide materials to help you understand the requirements, but cannot write your procedures for you. Once completed, your procedures will be reviewed by an auditor and a visit to your company’s site(s) will be scheduled.
- On-Site Audit
At the site visit, the auditor will review your FSC procedures and documents for a typical job (from receipt of inputs to the final sale) and will tour the facilities where FSC material will be handled. The auditor will look for evidence that your staff has been duly trained in the responsibilities that have been assigned to them and that they possess an understanding of the workflow for FSC certified products.
- Report and Certification Decision
After the site visit, the auditor will prepare a detailed report. The report is reviewed by the certification committee at SCS, comprised of staff members, who make the final certification decision based on the auditor’s findings. SCS requires that you acknowledge the findings of the report, which may include requests for corrective action.
- Certification Maintenance
Once certified, your company will be listed on the FSC and SCS websites, and you will receive further information from SCS about the use of FSC and SCS trademarks for both on-product and off-product applications. You will also gain access to our logo approval system.
Annual audits are required in order to maintain FSC Chain of Custody certification.
Applications
- Chain of Custody, English - US, Adobe PDF
- Chain of Custody, English - US, MS Word
- Chain of Custody, Español, MS Word
- Chain of Custody, Español, Adobe PDF
- Chain of Custody, Português, Adobe PDF
- Chain of Custody, Português, MS Word
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