INSIGHT | FSC
FSC-CERTIFIED BUSINESSES OFTEN SEE POSITIVE CHANGE TO THEIR PUBLIC IMAGE Many businesses have already taken into account the competitive edge that FSC certifi cation can provide. Furniture companies such as Poco, KHG, Butlers, MiaVilla and Maisons du Monde have decided to promote FSC- labelled products to their consumers. Others have committed internationally to use more FSC-
certifi ed materials – IKEA committed to source only FSC- certifi ed or reclaimed materials for their products in store by 2020, and OTTO has also developed a similar objective for their indoor furniture. Leroy Merlin Italy met their commitment to ensure that 80
per cent of their patio furniture would be certifi ed by 2015, and this pledge is likely to continue as the company reaps the benefi ts of certifi cation. In 2016, their instore campaign about FSC-certifi ed wood products resulted in 33.5 per cent growth in sales value. Research has shown that businesses that become FSC
certifi ed benefi t from better access to international markets, have higher revenues, and see a very positive change to their public image. According to research conducted for the FSC Global Market Survey Report 2016 – which will be made available soon through
– 86 per cent of FSC
certifi cate holders operating in furniture manufacturing believe that FSC certifi cation helps them create a positive corporate image and 51 per cent think that FSC certifi cation is increasingly relevant in the furniture sector.
GOVERNMENT POLICIES REFLECT THE GROWING TREND FOR SUSTAINABILITY WORLDWIDE Government regulations of business operations also refl ect this trend toward more responsible decisions. To ensure sustainable development, an increasing number of national
and local authorities are adopting public procurement policies requiring that they purchase only products that come from well-managed forests. The Netherlands, for instance, has adopted a 100 per cent green public procurement policy for all government levels to be reached by 2015. Italy is another positive example, with more than 50 per cent of procurement already sourced sustainably. Since the European Union Timber Regulation (EUTR) came into force in 2013, certifi cation has become a standard feature of purchased wood products such as furniture. The forthcoming European Union Ecolabel criteria for wooden furniture will reinforce this approach, as it will require some of these products to be certifi ed by a recognised certifi cation scheme, such as FSC. Changing sourcing practices in business and in public procurements should also help reduce the pressure
BECOME FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL CERTIFIED
FSC certifi cation is an effective way to get public and consumer recognition of your responsible practices. It gives you credibility with customers and business partners as well as fi nancial institutions and watchdog organizations. Being FSC certifi ed means that your forest, or supply chain, will be managed responsibly; that you comply with the FSC’s environmental, social, and economic
standards. This covers much more than the trees themselves – among other things, it ensures that local communities are respected, protects the habitats of endangered plant and animal species, and guarantees that workers are paid fairly.
When your business becomes
certifi ed, your product can carry the FSC label. It is a trusted symbol that shows consumers and businesses that you are sustainably managing
either your forest, by preserving it for future generations, or your supply chain operations. Aside from showing the world your commitment to responsible forestry, FSC certifi cation has other business benefi ts: it’s been proven that many businesses can receive fi nancial benefi ts from being FSC certifi ed (according to the WWF cost-benefi t report). |
ic.fsc.org
PHOTOS | Sustainability remains an important trend in the furniture sector, especially in the growing European market for garden furniture.
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