FSC has a global forest certification system to provide a guarantee that forest products come from responsibly managed sources. The system has two key components:

Forest Management (FM) certification shows that forest managers or owners are managing their forests in a responsible way, and guarantees that processes and operations meet FSC standards;

Chain of Custody (CoC) certification provides a guarantee about the production and source of FSC-certified products. It is for businesses manufacturing or trading forest products. Chain of Custody certification verifies that products are handled correctly at every stage of production – from forest to shelf.

How Certification Works:

The certification process is carried out by independent certification bodies that assess forest managers and forest product companies against FSC standards.

FSC itself does not certify forest operations or manufacturers. This maintain FSC's independence between its standards and requirements, and operations seeking certification.

To earn FSC certification and the right to use the FSC label, an organization must conform to all applicable FSC requirements. Managing forests in accordance with FSC principles and criteria means following exacting social and environmental guidelines, and often requires managers to adapt their existing management and operational practices.