Certificates in Ukraine conflict areas suspended

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will require suspension of its certificates in armed conflict areas of Ukraine, and will allow streamlined auditing processes on certificates in areas not affected by conflict.

FSC remains determined to continue to support Ukrainian certificate holders as far as possible, and therefore will allow certification bodies – the independent auditors of FSC certificate holders – to continue their work in areas not affected by war, for example through remote audits and extending the time between audits to over a year, if required.

At the same time, FSC must continue to protect the integrity of the FSC system. In the invaded regions of Ukraine, government legislation cannot be enforced, and it is not safe for the auditors to carry out their work. These factors dramatically increase the risks of forests not being managed according to FSC’s standards, and therefore FSC has no choice but to require the suspension of the relevant certificates. The suspension will be effective 30 days from today (4 May 2022).

FSC has worked closely with colleagues based in Ukraine to provide as clear as possible guidance on where the armed conflict zones are. This is not a simple activity, considering the unpredictability of war, and FSC requests certification bodies, certificate holders and other stakeholders to make this assessment to the best of their ability. For this purpose, FSC has identified three categories of information sources regarding the location of conflict zones:

Public sources***

  1. The Ukraine State Forest Resources Agency (for state-owned forests)
  2. Directly from local authorities within Ukraine.
  3. Certificate holders importing FSC material from Ukraine are required to amend their supply chain due diligence to avoid sourcing from zones of armed conflict.
    more at: https://fsc.org/en/newsfeed/certificates-in-ukraine-conflict-areas-suspended
Related Posts

REI Co-op achieves 14-year carbon neutrality commitment, announces ambitious new climate platform

REI Co-op announced today it will complete a 14-year commitment to be carbon neutral in its operations in 2020 and launched an ambitious new climate platform that will see the co-op more than halve its carbon footprint over the next decade – even as the company anticipates future growth in size and revenue. “The climate crisis is the greatest threat to the future of life outdoors and to REI’s business. The science is clear about what we, as a society, need to do to change that future. The world must halve its greenhouse gasses emissions by 2030, so that’s where REI – and the broader outdoor community – must lead,” said REI Co-op President and CEO Eric Artz. “Going forward, we’re embedding the impact of doing business, and the cost, into our business model.”

Mondi recognised by CDP with outstanding Triple A score for climate, forests and water security

Global packaging and paper leader Mondi has been recognised by CDP with a prestigious Triple A score for the second year in a row. Of the nearly 12,000 organisations rated, Mondi is one of only 14 worldwide to achieve a Triple A score for its sustainability performance on climate, forests and water security. "Our purpose is to contribute to a better world by making packaging and paper sustainable by design. Achieving another ‘Triple A’ score from CDP is a testament to our continued efforts in leading the way on sustainability and reporting transparently on our progress. This rating acknowledges our clear ambitions and best-practice approach to taking action on climate, protecting forests and safeguarding water resources in line with our MAP2030 sustainability framework." Gladys Naylor, Group Head of Sustainable Development at Mondi

Tetra Pak calls for collaborative innovation to tackle sustainability challenges in the food packaging industry

Tetra Pak has introduced a new collaborative innovation model with leading paperboard producers, a move aimed at tackling the food packaging industry’s sustainability challenges. The traditional operating model of a linear supply chain has changed, and a new partnership ecosystem model is emerging, where the entire industry works in close collaboration. This brings together not only producers and suppliers, but also research institutions, universities and start-ups in an attempt to find solutions. According to the latest research the global food supply chain system is responsible for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions; a third of all food is lost or wasted somewhere in the supply chain; fossil fuel-based materials need to be phased out; and significant improvements are needed to the way packaging is dealt with after use.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search