The Wonderful World of Forest Certification
FSC centers on the Triple Bottom Line. Because of this symbiotic, functional relationship, organizations like Dell, Nike, IKEA, Williams-Sonoma, Random House, ConocoPhillips and Stanford University endorse the FSC standard, not SFI.
In future articles, we will explore the structure of what forest certification means to printers and what it takes to get FSC-certified. We’ll examine what chain-of-custody is all about, we’ll look at labeling requirements and product groups, and we’ll also talk with some in-plants that have obtained their certification.
Vic Nathan Barkin has more than 35 years of experience in the printing, paper and wood products industries and currently owns a consulting practice specializing in business development, workflow, and technology implementation, focusing on “Green Procurement and Production” practices. Vic is a QMS Lead Auditor certified to ISO 9001:2008 standards, is a consultant for the Rainforest Alliance as an FSC Chain of Custody and Controlled Wood senior auditor, is an FSC, SFI and PEFC lead auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers and SGS North America, and has engaged in more than 700 site assessments and audits.
