The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non-profit organization. The FSC was created in 1993 following the Rio Earth Summit to change the practice of responsible forestry worldwide. The FSC principles and criteria include conserving biological diversity, conserving old growth forests, protecting the well-being of indigenous groups, and slowing global climate change. The FSC has established a credible certification program which guarantees the product comes from a well-managed forest.
The FSC standard has global support from highly regarded organizations. Choosing FSC certified papers is one way a company can show environmental responsibility. These papers present no difference in quality or print performance as the difference is about forest management, not papermaking. In 2007, A to Z Printing attained certification under the FSC’s Chain of Custody standard. This allows A to Z Printing to produce printing and writing papers manufactured in compliance with FSC standards.
The FSC has established an international labeling scheme for forest products. All products carrying the FSC label have been independently certified as coming from forests that meet the recognized FSC Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship. Forest inspections are carried out on a regular basis by a number of FSC-accredited certification bodies, which are evaluated and monitored to ensure their competence and credibility. There are currently more than 67 million acres of FSC- certified forestland in North America and nearly 200 million acres globally.
To earn FSC certification, a product made with pulp or paper must pass through a complete "chain of custody" (CoC) from an FSC certified forest to an FSC certified paper manufacturer, merchant and printer. In order to identify products with the FSC label, all processes in the CoC must be independently verified and have CoC certification. SmartWood is the certification body for A to Z Printing, and carries out on-the-ground, detailed assessment of operations and their social, environmental, and economic components. To bear the FSC logo, paper mills, paper merchants and printers must continue the chain of FSC certification so that consumers have a credible, traceable record of their paper specification.
The Rainforest Alliance, one of the founders of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), is the world's largest FSC forestlands certifier. Their SmartWood program sets the standard for credibility in auditing environmentally and socially responsible forestry practice. Also through the SmartWood program, Rainforest Alliance offers independent auditing, certification and promotion of FSC-certified forest products to improve forest management by providing economic incentives to businesses that practice responsible forestry. With offices and partner organizations around the world, they are able to offer on-the-ground certification services globally. Certificate holders who work with the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program are able to use both the FSC trademark and the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal. The Rainforest Alliance seal is found globally, in over 20,000 outlets, and is seen by consumers as a trusted guarantee of excellent environmental and social practices.