FSC Statement on Integrity Safeguards and Recent Criticism

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) welcomes open dialogue on our system’s integrity. Independent scrutiny is part of what has made FSC the most trusted forest certification system in the world. At the same time, it is important that discussions about FSC are grounded in facts and reflect the substantial progress made in recent years.

We see volume tracking as a critical step to further strengthen integrity in FSC supply chains. Our membership will decide on this at the FSC General Assembly later this month, and FSC stands ready to deliver. With FSC Trace, our blockchain-powered platform for end-to-end traceability, we have the capability to implement volume tracking and close important gaps in supply chain assurance.

We also recognise the realities of the sector we operate in: global timber supply chains are complex, often involving multiple intermediaries, cross-border processing, and varying levels of regulatory enforcement. These factors create opportunities for risk, but they are also why FSC exists, and why the integrity of our system continues to evolve to meet those challenges.

References in a recent Preferred by Nature article to widespread false FSC claims are based on outdated information that does not reflect the system today. What the article does not acknowledge are the significant measures FSC has put in place in recent years to strengthen integrity and act swiftly against misconduct.

The article relies on a broad estimate of false claims without providing verified evidence to substantiate it. FSC addresses risks with verifiable data and concrete action, and we invite anyone with credible evidence to raise it through our open channels, enabling us to investigate and act where necessary.

How integrity issues are addressed

FSC has formal channels for raising concerns, whether related to unacceptable activities, the content or implementation of standards, or FSC’s overall performance. Raising issues outside these channels undermines the collaborative approach that has always been central to FSC’s credibility and continuous improvement.

Our biggest forum for debating and deciding on system-wide reforms is the FSC General Assembly. Later this month, members will vote on two motions focused on strengthening FSC’s system integrity. This is how FSC evolves; through established mechanisms, open debate, shared accountability, and collective decisions that drive continuous improvement.

Action on false claims and supply chain integrity

FSC has increased the use of transaction verification, wood sample testing, and targeted investigations to identify and block companies who make false claims.

One of the proactive steps we are taking is our work with World Forest ID, an organization which FSC was part of establishing. Through this collaboration, we are advancing the use of scientific wood testing to verify timber origin and strengthen supply chain integrity. This work reflects our commitment to go beyond traditional auditing and build system-wide tools that provide independent, evidence-based assurance.

False claims in snowboards

The concern raised about snowboards refers to irregularities FSC itself uncovered in Paulownia supply chains in 2020. Since then, we have taken extensive and transparent action, all of which is publicly documented on our website. Several certificate holders were blocked from the FSC system for making false claims and mismatches in volume of wood traded was identified. In 2021 FSC introduced the Advice Note on Confirmation of Origin for FSC-certified Paulownia Products (Advice-40-004-20) to systemically strengthen safeguards. It requires that organizations shall not include Paulownia in their certified product groups or sell it with an FSC claim unless they can trace it back to the FSC-certified forest management unit of origin, supported by documentary evidence.

In 2022, FSC and Assurance Services International (ASI) ran another transaction verification loop in the Paulownia supply chain; only one company was found to have made false claims, and it was blocked. The follow-up verification, along with tighter transaction matching, stricter claim substantiation, and faster enforcement, has materially tightened the gaps that enabled earlier false claims. We continue to monitor known risk areas with proactive flags and escalation protocols.

Russia and Belarus

In a global timber trade marked by complex supply chains, weak enforcement in some source countries, and product types that are harder to trace, cases such as mis declared or mislabelled imports do arise.

We address these risks through transaction verification, origin testing, targeted investigations, and stronger auditor oversight. Any breach of FSC rules results in swift enforcement, from suspensions to blocking companies from re-certification

One major initiative is the Eurasia Integrity Workplan (2024) which focuses on identifying and mitigating the risk of Russian timber entering certified supply chains and involves more than 800 certificate holders across the region. It combines transaction verification of birch plywood and wood panel supply chains, isotopic testing to confirm timber origin, targeted investigations of suspected misconduct, and auditor training to increase scrutiny.

In addition, FSC and ASI have introduced further supply chain integrity measures:

• Ongoing transaction verification of birch plywood supply chains, launched in 2023, which has so far led to the blockage of four certificate holders [The final result of this investigation will be published on our website soon].
• A 2024 field investigation in Kazakhstan, which resulted in two companies exiting FSC and one being blocked from seeking recertification.

Looking Ahead

Certification bodies are an important part of FSC, conducting audits and compliance checks across global supply chains, but integrity cannot depend on audits alone. FSC is working on moving beyond this reliance by strengthening system-level oversight and embedding new ways to detect and address risks directly across supply chains.

The actions we have taken since 2021, from transaction verification loops to region-wide investigations and new digital traceability tools, show that we do not hesitate to confront risks head-on. Our commitment is simple: when risks emerge, we act. And as the global timber trade evolves, FSC will continue adapting so that our label always stands for responsible forestry.

Looking ahead, the FSC International Board has set strengthening system integrity as a global priority for 2026, with the goal of improving FSC’s ability to prevent fraud, maintain trust with partners, and protect the credibility of certification as it grows.