What Is FSC Certification — and Why Does It Matter for Your Printed Materials?

You've probably seen the FSC logo on books, packaging, and printed materials — a small green tick-tree symbol. You might even have sustainability requirements that specify FSC-certified print. But what does FSC certification actually mean, how does it work, and how do you know if a printer's claim is genuine?

Here's a plain-English explanation.

What Does FSC Stand For?

FSC stands for the Forest Stewardship Council — an international non-profit organisation that sets standards for responsible forest management. Founded in 1993, the FSC operates globally, certifying forests and supply chains that meet its environmental, social, and economic standards.

The FSC's core principle: paper and wood products should come from forests managed in ways that preserve biodiversity, protect workers' rights, and benefit local communities — rather than contributing to deforestation or exploitative practices.

What Is FSC Chain of Custody Certification?

Forest certification on its own only covers what happens in the forest. Chain of Custody (CoC) certification is what tracks material from the forest through every step of the supply chain — sawmill, paper mill, printer — to the finished product in your hands.

When a printer holds FSC Chain of Custody certification, the paper they supply can be traced and verified at every step. The chain is only as strong as its weakest link: if the printer isn't certified, you can't carry an FSC label on the final product, regardless of where the paper originated.

Complete Colour holds FSC Chain of Custody certification. Our certificate code is FSC-C015144.

What Are the Three FSC Product Labels?

There are three FSC product labels, and they mean different things. FSC 100% means all the wood fibre in the product comes from FSC-certified forests — the strongest possible claim. FSC Mix means the product contains a combination of material from FSC-certified forests, recycled material, and controlled wood that meets FSC's minimum standards for avoiding controversial sources. FSC Mix is the most common label on commercial print. FSC Recycled means the product is made entirely from reclaimed materials — either post-consumer or pre-consumer recovered fibre.

Do You Need FSC Labelling on Your Printed Materials?

Not every organisation needs the FSC label printed on their materials — but some genuinely do. You may need it if your organisation has a sustainability procurement policy that specifies certified materials, if you're producing materials for government tender processes that require it, if your printed materials carry a sustainability message and you want it to be verifiable, or if your donors, members, or customers expect it — particularly relevant for not-for-profits, environmental organisations, and B Corps.

Even if you don't need the label visible on the piece, working with an FSC-certified printer means your supply chain is responsible — and you can document that claim for internal reporting purposes.

How Do You Verify a Printer's FSC Certification?

This matters, because FSC certification can be falsely claimed. There's a straightforward way to check: the FSC's public certificate database at info.fsc.org lets you search any company by name or certificate code.

Search for Complete Colour — or enter our code FSC-C015144 — and you'll see our current certification status, scope, and expiry date. If a printer can't provide you with a verifiable code, treat that with appropriate scepticism.

Complete Colour's FSC and PEFC Credentials

We hold FSC Chain of Custody certification alongside PEFC Chain of Custody certification — the two leading international responsible sourcing standards for print. We can supply FSC-labelled print in any of the three FSC product categories, and we provide certification documentation for any job that requires it.

FSC certificate code: FSC-C015144. Verify at info.fsc.org. View our full sustainability credentials at completecolour.com.au/environment.