FSC®; this is an organisation that makes sure that forests are being well-managed. Companies who own the FSC®-certificate contribute to the conservation of well-managed forests. What does FSC® stand for and what does it mean? Why is FSC® important? Below you will find the answers to those questions.

The FSC®-certification: what is it?

FSC® stands for Forest Stewardship Council, this is a non-profit organisation that is founded to make sure that all of the worldwide forests are being well-managed. The criteria of the FSC®-certificate make sure that the social, environmental and economic interests are well balanced. Forest management in accordance with these standards protects forests, nowadays and in the future. Wood out of a FSC® forest can easily be distinguished from uncertified wood. This way you can find out where the raw materials of your products come from. Only companies that own the FSC®-certificate are allowed to sell FSC®-products. You can recognize a FSC®-product by the FSC®-label. There are two kinds of FSC®-certificates: Certification of Forest Management (FM) and Certification of Companies (Chain of Custody).

Why FSC®?

Did you know that 36 football fields of forest around the world are being cut down each minute? Deforestation accounts for 15% of the global CO2 emission each year. 80% of all animals worldwide depend on the forest, just like millions of people who work and/or live in the forest. FSC® is doing its best to maintain the living area of plants and animals in the following ways:

  • It is not allowed to cut wood by watercourses and on steep slopes;
  • Forests with big natural and cultural values are not allowed to be cut down;
  • If an area is deforested, it is not allowed to cut down trees in this area for at least 30 years. This way the forest gets enough time to recover;
  • The additional growth in the recovery period is more than what has been cut.

FSC® has a major impact because the organization not only focuses on nature protection, but it also offers a great social and economic added value. FSC® also helps to combat climate change. Forest protection ensures that the CO2 that has been absorbed by the forest over the years is not released into the atmosphere. Worldwide, there are approximately 20 billion tons of CO2 in FSC® forests.

Jalema & FSC®

Jalema holds the FSC®-certificate. Therefore Jalema contributes to the maintenance of well-managed forests. This means that a lot of Jalema-products are made out of FSC®-certified paper or cardboard, for example the Alzicht suspension files, the Atlanta business forms and the work files of Secolor and Arnato. Every year, Jalema gets an FSC®-audit, where is checked whether Jalema meets all the FSC®-requirements. During this audit, employees are questioned about the FSC® procedures at Jalema and the annual balance sheet of incoming and outgoing FSC® products is checked.

Do you want to contribute to the preservation of well-managed forests? Forests remain very important to us as human beings; if only because they produce oxygen and raw materials. Then we haven't even mentioned all the other benefits of the forests.

So care about our forests, choose for a FSC®-product. Now, you know exactly why that is the right choice!