What is FSC certification and what does it mean for my book?

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council which is an international nonprofit organization that sets standards for responsible forest management. FSC certification is one of the most widely recognized marks of responsible paper sourcing in publishing and print.

What FSC certification covers
FSC certification applies to the entire chain of custody, from the forest where the trees are harvested, through the paper mill, to the printer, and ultimately to the finished product. Each link in that chain must be certified for the final product to carry the FSC label.

There are three types of FSC labels:

• FSC 100% — all material comes from FSC-certified forests
• FSC Recycled — all material comes from recycled sources
• FSC Mix — material comes from a combination of FSC-certified forests, recycled material, and/or FSC-controlled wood

What it means for your book
If your project uses FSC-certified paper and is printed at a certified facility like Bradford & Bigelow, your finished book may be eligible to carry the FSC label. This is increasingly important for publishers selling into school districts, libraries, and institutions with green procurement requirements, as well as publishers who want to communicate responsible sourcing to their readers.

FSC vs. SFI
SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) is a North American alternative to FSC with similar goals: responsible forestry and chain-of-custody documentation. Both are credible standards. FSC is more widely recognized internationally; SFI is common in North American supply chains. Bradford & Bigelow is certified for both.

How to print on FSC-certified stock
FSC and SFI certified paper must be requested at the quoting stage. Contact us to discuss certified paper options for your project.