Regenerate natural ecosystems Principles behind circular economy and how FSC contributes Visit main circularity page → A circular economy depends on healthy and regenerative ecosystems. Renewable materials can only support circular systems if they are sourced in ways that protect nature and allow ecosystems to recover over time. This means protecting biodiversity, maintaining soil and water systems, and ensuring that natural resources are used within ecological limits. Regeneration is not an optional add-on – it is a basic condition for circularity. For companies, this involves making conscious choices about where materials come from and how they are sourced. Environmental and social considerations need to be integrated into procurement, supplier engagement, and day-to-day decision-making. Core elements of this principle Ensure resilient ecosystems Adopt practices that protect and strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. This includes avoiding environmental harm and considering the planetary boundaries. Prioritize responsible sourcing of renewable materials Source renewable materials in ways that support long-term sustainability. This goes beyond renewability and includes biodiversity protection, responsible forest management, and respect for community rights. Companies should integrate circular and sustainability requirements into procurement policies and contracts, and actively engage suppliers to ensure alignment with these principles. How organizations can act Organizations across value chains – including brands, manufacturers, retailers, investors, and public buyers – play an important role in safeguarding the ecosystems that circularity depends on. One key step is to implement FSC sourcing policies that prioritize certified materials and set clear sustainability requirements for suppliers. Engaging suppliers is equally important. This includes working together on biodiversity protection, responsible forest management, and long-term stewardship of natural resources. Organizations can also use FSC Verified Impact to support and document positive environmental outcomes, such as biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, and water protection. At the same time, shifting to renewable materials should be done carefully. Forest-based materials need to be used efficiently and only where they provide clear value. Apply cascading principles where we minimize unnecessary demand for virgin inputs, and ensure fibres are used only where they are truly needed and deliver lasting value. Reducing pressure on forests is as important as shifting to renewable materials.Learn more about FSC procurement policy guidance ©fsc-denmark FSC's contribution today Ensure resilient ecosystemsFSC already supports this principle through its forest-level standards and tools, which help protect the ecosystems that circular material flows depend on. FSC Forest Management (FM) and Controlled Forest Management (CFM)FSC Forest Management Certification ensures that forests are managed in ways that are environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable - regardless of forest size, ownership type, or geographic region. In practice, this includes maintaining, conserving and restoring ecosystems and environmental values, protecting biodiversity, avoiding deforestation and degradation, and reducing negative impacts. These requirements are verified through independent third-party audits. FSC Controlled Forest Management (CFM) applies similar safeguards in areas that are not fully FSC-certified, ensuring that materials still meet defined environmental and social risk thresholds.Learn more about FSC Forest ManagementLearn more about FSC Controlled Forest Management FSC Verified Impact and the Ecosystem Services ProcedureFSC Verified Impact allows forest owners and companies to go further by demonstrating measurable positive impacts on ecosystems. This includes outcomes such as biodiversity conservation, carbon storage, soil health, and water regulation. These impacts are independently verified and documented. When combined with FSC Forest Management Certification, this provides credible evidence that forest management not only avoids harm, but also contributes to restoring ecosystems. Businesses, governments, and other actors can support these projects and receive verified documentation of real, measurable environmental outcomes.Learn more about FSC Verified Impact Expanding FSC's contribution FSC’s contribution to regenerating natural ecosystems is already embedded in its core system. Through Forest Management Certification, Controlled Forest Management and the Verified Impact framework, FSC provides a strong foundation for protecting biodiversity and supporting ecosystem resilience. At this stage, no additional circularity-specific tools are proposed under this principle. The priority is instead to increase the uptake and recognition of FSC as a trusted system for verifying responsible sourcing. This helps ensure that ecosystem integrity remains the foundation of a circular bioeconomy.
