The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) is a global certification system founded in 1993 through the efforts of representatives from international environmental groups, timber businesses, forestry professionals, the wood processing industry, indigenous communities, labor unions, and certification organizations worldwide. The core purpose of FSC® is to promote responsible forest management across the globe, helping to safeguard fragile, endangered, and declining forests. Although the organization was created to protect forests and prevent their destruction, deforestation still persists.

Holding an FSC® certification assures consumers that products made from wood, paper, or other forest resources originate from responsibly managed forests. These forests are maintained in a way that respects ecological balance while considering the well-being of workers, local communities, and legal requirements for timber harvesting.

Before reaching the end user, materials from certified forests go through multiple stages, including logging, processing, manufacturing, and distribution. To verify the origin of these materials, it is essential to track their movement throughout the supply chain. This process is known as Chain of Custody (CoC).