The Label To Look For On Your Paper & Wood Products

By now, we all know that the "organic" seal identifies foods and beverages made without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or antibiotics. But there's another, lesser-known logo that conscious consumers should always be looking out for in stores, too: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label.

The FSC label marks wood and paper goods created using best forestry practices. This means that they were produced responsibly, with old-growth forests, rare species, and water quality in mind. Old-growth forests are those that have grown uninterrupted for long enough to establish rich habitats that support a wide variety of wildlife.

FSC certification is essentially the "Good Housekeeping seal of approval" for forests and products from them, explained Linda Walker, the manager of World Wildlife Fund's Global Forest & Trade Network–North America program, in a recent email.

Like the organic label, FSC is an optional one for farmers. WWF works to highlight the initiatives of tree farmers who decide to have their forests certified in an effort to put a face to the products we see in stores. By connecting consumers to producers, the nonprofit hopes to encourage more people to make responsible purchasing decisions.

One of the success stories featured in WWF's forest initiative is that of Donna Janssen. Donna is a timber farmer on a family-maintained plot in southern Arkansas who chose to get her land FSC-certified in 2012 — a decision she says broadened her perspective on the natural environment.

By ensuring that her production goals align with what's best for the earth, Donna has discovered a newfound appreciation for native species and a desire to protect the future of their habitat.

"Throughout my lifetime, I have watched the timber industry transform from a 'here and now' view to a much more long-term perspective," she said.

As Donna makes plans to pass her tree farm — a plot she lovingly refers to as "the thread that sews my family closer together" — on to her nephews, she's proud that its wood will be contributing to products that are truly sustainable.