FSC Stories from around the world
FSC Pulp and Paper Make Headlines the World Over
Just a decade ago, the pulp and paper sector was stigmatized as being one of the most detrimental
to our forests, in large part because of its reliance on ancient forests for raw material. At that time,
no possible solution could be seen. Today, pulp and paper companies from Europe, North America,
South Africa and Brazil are trying to change that image – moving toward more responsible use of the
forests resources by becoming FSC certified.
The impact of pulp and paper production on the world’s forests is profound. About 40 percent of all commercially
traded timber is used for paper production. Paper consumption is projected to grow by about 50
percent by 2010. How, and from which kind of forests, will the future demand be met?
The good news is that a growing portion of the demand will be met with FSCcertified
pulp and paper. The growth of the certified sector has been nothing
short of remarkable. In 2000, the FSC-certified paper list for Europe included
just 10 entries: three for graphic paper, four for agents and three for pulp and
carton producers in Sweden. According to the FSC German Working Group,
the number of FSC certified companies in Europe had grown to 41 as of
September 2005. The number of printers certified under FSC Chain of
Custody has increased from 20 to over 73 in just two years. These increases
come as a result of demand – more books, annual reports, office paper, paper
products and magazines are being printed on FSC-certified stock than ever
before. FSC paper is on the shelves of consumer stores, and is cropping up
in some rather unexpected places.
Over the last five years, there has be a noticeable shift in the publications industry toward FSC paper.
Support from FSC’s stakeholders, such as Greenpeace’s book campaign, GFTN and Forest Ethics, has
been key to this success.
In the 1990s, in the United Kingdom BBC Magazines made the first move in the editorial sector, committing
to using FSC paper for its edition of BBC Wildlife. Currently, BBC Wildlife, BBC Music Magazine,
Radio Times, Songs of Praise and the teen title It’s HOT! are all printed in FSC paper. Their combined
circulation amounts to about one quarter of a million copies.
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