FSC® Chain of Custody Certification
Assuring Traceability from Source to Market for Wood and Paper Products
Forestry Business Group
Showcase your products made with FSC Certified Sources
Assure customers that your wood, paper products, and other forest-based materials meet the world’s most stringent environmental, ethical, and economic sourcing standards with Forest Stewardship Council® Chain of Custody (FSC CoC) certification. FSC CoC certification serves all companies in the supply chain that process or sell forest products, including sawmills, manufacturers, brokers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, printers, paper merchants, and projects.
Certification provides numerous benefits such as:
- access to the growing global market for responsibly sourced wood and paper products;
- assured traceability across the entire supply chain;
- marketing support and recognition to build brand equity;
- contribution to green building credits such as LEED v.4; and
- securing the future of forests through support of responsible forestry practices.
SCS Expertise
SCS has been a pioneer and leader in forest management and chain of custody certification since 1991, and was among the first third-party certification bodies to be accredited by the FSC upon its launch in the mid-1990s. Our experienced team has conducted audits against the FSC Forest Management Certification standard Standard and the FSC Chain of Custody Standard in countries around the world. Our audit team includes industry experts who recognize the importance of providing excellent customer service while doing a thorough job.
4,500 Current Certificate Holders
SCS can conduct your FSC Chain of Custody audit concurrently with other internationally recognized CoC certifications such as Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). FSC Chain of Custody can also be a foundation for Sustainable Biomass Program (SBP) certification for woody biomass, reducing overall audit time and expense. Additionally, certificate holders may be interested in management system certifications such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, and wood products may qualify for other relevant certifications such as SCS CARB Formaldehyde Compliance (CARB ATCM).
Watch this case study video of Germany’s 1st FSC certified clothing brand, Mey
- Eligibility
- Process
- FAQs
- Documents
The FSC requires any company taking legal ownership of FSC certified products and wishing to pass forward certified claims to undergo FSC CoC certification. This quality management system assessment verifies certified inputs and outputs, ensures full traceability, and addresses other key indicators.
Because CoC operations range from simple to very complex, FSC has distinct CoC standards to account for different scenarios:
Types of FSC Certificates
- Single site: For companies that operate one facility
- Multi-site Certification: For companies that operate several facilities, designate a "Central Office," and manage one certificate
- Group Certification: Allows small, independent operations to join together to designate a "Group Manager" who oversees conformity of group members on a single certificate
- Project Certification: For new building or renovation projects, or production of a specific product
Optional Certificate add-ons include:
- Controlled Wood Certification: Verifying compliance of non-certified inputs for production
- Reclaimed Materials: Verifying uncertified inputs as reclaimed in order to receive full claim-contributing inputs for FSC product groups
FSC Certificates Issued by SCS – For a complete list of SCS FSC-certified clients and products, visit the FSC Registered Certificates database and select "SCS" (Scientific Certification Systems) within the first drop-down menu next to "Certificate Code."
A full list of our FSC regional affiliates can be found here.
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Apply to be Certified
To start the process, simply fill in and submit the SCS application form. We will review your application and develop a proposal which will include an audit plan, an anticipated timeframe, and a quote for services. Work can proceed once you sign a Work Order confirming these details.
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Written Procedures
The applicant creates company procedures to demonstrate how certified wood or paper products will be tracked throughout the operation. SCS provides guidance to help explain the CoC requirements.
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On-Site Audit
The SCS auditor reviews the applicant’s CoC procedures and documents while on-site, from receipt of inputs through final sale. Additionally, the auditor visits the facilities where certified material is handled and conducts interviews with members of your staff to confirm training in CoC responsibilities and understanding of the workflow for certified products.
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Evaluation Report
The SCS auditor prepares a report detailing the results of the assessment.
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Certification Decision
An SCS Technical Associate validates the appropriateness of the auditor's methodology and conclusions, and decides whether certification is warranted. All major Corrective Action Requests (CARs) identified in the audit report must be resolved before certification can be approved. Once issued, the certificate covers a period of five years, with surveillance audits conducted annually.
Certified companies and product offerings are listed on the official FSC certificate holder database, and addition, receive guidance on the use of trademarks directly on products and for other marketing and sales purposes.
Certified companies may also choose to take advantage of SCS’ Client Marketing Support services.
What is FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) certification?
FSC Chain of Custody (CoC) is a third-party certification demonstrating that wood products, paper products, and other forest materials are traceable back to an FSC certified source.
Does our organization need to be FSC Chain of Custody certified?
CoC certification is required if your company takes legal ownership of certified materials or products and wishes to pass on an FSC certified claim to your supply chain customer(s). Companies at the end of the supply chain, such as retailers who will not be passing the claim forward on an invoice, are not required to hold a certificate but may choose to do so. FSC now offers retailer promotional licenses for off-product promotional purposes. Contact your local FSC office or SCS for more information.
What type of Chain of Custody certification does my organization need?
Every CoC certificate holder must conform to the FSC Chain of Custody Standard. Certification to additional standards may be necessary depending on the structure of your organization (e.g. multi-site for common ownership, or group certification for small businesses without common ownership) and the use of uncertified materials (virgin or recycled) that you might wish to source and mix with your certified materials or products. Please contact us to determine the available options.
How often do I have to get recertified??
Each FSC certificate covers a five-year period. In the interim, the company must undergo a yearly surveillance audit.
Does FSC Chain of Custody certification make my product eligible for green building program credits?
Yes, there are many green building programs such as US Green Building Council's LEED program, Living Building Challenge, LEED India, the Green Building Council of Australia, and others that offer credit for the use of certified wood products in construction. Consult the green building standard, a local green building professional, or SCS to learn more.
How much does Chain of Custody certification cost?
The cost of SCS third-party assessment is variable depending on factors such as where you are located, how large you are, how complex the operation, and whether your FSC certification is bundled with other certifications.
How long does the certification last?
FSC certificates are issued for a five-year period. Annual surveillance audits are required to maintain your certification during this period.
How long does the Chain-of-Custody certification process take?
The certification process takes approximately 6-8 weeks depending on the size and complexity of your operation. The largest component of this is audit preparation. If you have already developed your FSC procedures, certification assessments can be expedited for an additional fee. For primary producers implementing a Controlled Wood sourcing program, a 6-week stakeholder consultation is required.
Can SCS help me prepare for our audit?
As an accredited third party certification body, SCS is forbidden from providing any applicants with consulting services. However, we are able to provide guidance documents to help your company prepare for a certification audit, and you will be provided with an audit plan in advance to provide an outline for the day as well as information on documentation that may be requested during the assessment.
How long is our organization’s Chain of Custody certificate valid?
Chain of Custody certificates are valid for a period of five years, contingent on annual surveillance audits occurring once every 12 months.
What other complementary certifications are available through SCS?
CoC certificate holders may be interested in complementary certifications that address additional aspects of your products and operations, such as food safety (packaging), carbon footprint, carbon neutrality, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Please contact SCS for customized recommendations specific to your business.
| Document Name | Document |
|---|---|
| Chain of Custody Certification FSC-STD-40-004 | Visit Site |
| Forest Conservation Program Chain of Custody Certification Manual | English |
| FSC Policy: Annual Administration Fee (AAF) FSC-POL-20-005 | Visit Site |
| FSC Standard for Project Certification FSC-STD-40-006 | Visit Site |
| FSC® Trademark Training for Certificate Holders | Visit Site |
| Requirements for Sourcing FSC® Controlled Wood FSC-STD-40-005 | Visit Site |
| Requirements for use of the FSC trademarks by certificate holders FSC-STD-50-001 | Visit Site |
| SCS International Responsible Forestry Certification – Qualifications Profile | English |
| Sourcing reclaimed material for use in FSC Product Groups or FSC Certified Projects FSC-STD-40-007 | Visit Site |
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