FSC — Forest Stewardship Council
Forest Stewardship Council Chain of Custody
On a mixed article the label covers only the forest-derived parts, and FSC Mix permits a defined share of non-certified input, so a claim without the label grade is incomplete. Bamboo, cork, rattan and natural rubber do qualify — "not wood" is not a disqualifier.
What it covers
Responsible forest management and chain of custody for wood, cork and wood-derived fibre such as lyocell and viscose.
What it does not cover
Does not apply to inputs that are not forest-derived — mineral, fossil-based and non-forest agricultural materials (glass, metal, plastics, flax, cotton) sit outside the scheme entirely. But it is not a wood-only mark: bamboo, cork, rattan, bark, resin and natural rubber/latex are all FSC-certifiable non-timber forest products, so “it isn’t wood, therefore FSC can’t apply” is the wrong instinct. On a mixed article the label covers only the certified forest-derived components — a chair can carry an FSC label on its wood while its rattan is uncertified. FSC Mix allows controlled non-certified input up to a defined threshold — “FSC certified” without the label grade is an incomplete answer.
Scope and exclusions are recorded from the issuing body’s own published documentation. A certificate covers what its scope statement says and nothing beyond it.