Use of the FSC Trademark What are the FSC trademarks?Who can use the FSC trademarks?Where can the FSC trademarks be used?ON-PRODUCT Labelling by Certificate HoldersOFF-PRODUCT Promotion by Certificate Holders and Non-Certificate HoldersNew Labels & Usage Guidelines
Use of the FSC Trademark
FSC's mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC's main tool for achieving this mission is a forest certification and product-labeling scheme. The public face of this scheme is the FSC trademark.
It is essential that the authority, integrity and credibility of the logo is maintained, and that the logo is publicly recognised and understood. FSC's aim is to ensure that the FSC logo is used correctly and as widely as possible.
TopWhat are the FSC trademarks?
FSC owns three trademarks: the name "FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL", the initials "FSC", and the "checkmark-and-tree" logo. All uses of these trademarks, especially on certified products or for promotion, are considered under license.
Unauthorized use is prohibited and will be treated as an infringement of copyright. FSC reserves the right to take legal action against any party that reproduces or copies the FSC Logo in any form whatsoever without the prior authorisation of one of the FSC authorising bodies. All use must be in compliance with the current guidelines and regulations.
TopWho can use the FSC trademarks?
FSC trademark and logo users fall into one of two categories: Certificate Holders or Non-Certificate Holders.
The term Certificate Holder applies to those who have been issued a Forest Management, Chain of Custody, or joint Forest Management/Chain-of-Custody certificate by a FSC-accredited certification body.
Non-Certificate Holders fall into of three groups: commercial users such as retailers and wholesalers; promotional users such as NGOs and FSC Members; and media and educational establishments wishing to inform the general public about the FSC. These users must have been issued 'Logo Packs' either by FSC Nominated Agents or FSC International.
Attention: All users - apart from media and educational establishments - must have received the FSC Logo Resource Pack and must enter into licensing agreements with FSC or the corresponding certification body. Having done so, they will receive an FSC authorized code number.
TopWhere can the FSC trademarks be used?
There are two types of usages: "on-product" and "off-product".
TopON-PRODUCT Labelling by Certificate Holders
"On-product" labelling means that any of FSC"s trademarks are physically and visibly applied on a certified forest product or its packaging (heat brands, product tags, labels, stencils, watermarks, retail packaging, plastic wrap, etc.).
Only Certificate Holders of either a Chain of Custody certificate or a joint Forest Management/Chain of Custody certificate can use the FSC trademarks on-product. FSC-accredited certification bodies approve and monitor all trademark use by their certificate holders.
The FSC trademarks cannot be used on-product with the logos, names or identifying marks of other forest certification schemes. This is to reduce confusion about environmental claims, and protect the integrity of the FSC logo.
TopOFF-PRODUCT Promotion by Certificate Holders and Non-Certificate Holders
"Off-product use" means that the FSC trademarks are not physically attached or linked to a certain product, but are used on promotional material (posters, brochures, flyers and advertising leaflets, shelf-talkers and barkers, bulletins and magazines, websites), trading documentation such as invoices*, or on corporate documents such as business cards* and letters*). This includes promotion of FSC certified forests, certified products and general information about FSC.
All FSC certificate holders (forest management, chain of custody and joint certificates) and non-certificate holders can be authorized to use the FSC trademarks off-product.
* Stationary use and use on invoices is for FSC certificate holders only, and is regulated by a special policy. Contact your certification body for more information.
If you require further information contact your certification body or contact trademark@fsc.org
TopNew Labels & Usage Guidelines
New labels and a standard for their use were approved by the FSC Board of Directors in September 2004. To learn more about the new labels click here
Usage Guidelines have been set out by FSC International, to learn more about these click here
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