FSC certification and what it requires of a manufacturer
Short answer: FSC certification means an independent body has checked that a company follows FSC's rules for tracing the material from the forest to the product. What it requires in detail depends on the company's role, which is why you should read the text by the mark.
What certification means
Certification is a check carried out by an independent body, not by the company itself. The independent body looks at whether the company follows the rules that apply to the mark. If it passes, it receives a certificate and a licence number that it can use in its communication.
Who can be certified
In a chain from forest to finished product, several companies can be certified, for instance those that manage the forest, process the material or sell it on. Each one has to follow the rules for its part of the chain. One certified link does not make the other links certified.
What a manufacturer should be able to show
A manufacturer should be able to show its certificate and licence number and explain what they cover. The number can be looked up with FSC. Also look at the product page for anything about certification when you browse the full bamboo range for women.
Checks at regular intervals
Certification is not a one-off. The company is checked at regular intervals to see whether it still follows the rules. If it loses its certificate, it may no longer use the mark. So ask whether a certificate is still valid if that matters to you.
Traceability is the core
The most important requirement is that the material can be followed through the chain, so certified material is not mixed freely with other material. The company has to keep records of what comes in and goes out. This is called traceability, and it requires documentation.
What certification does not tell you
Certification concerns the path of the raw material and the company's procedures, not fit, quality or how the fabric is dyed. It also says nothing about the whole story of the garment. So it is one piece of information among several when you assess a product.
Not all products are covered
This post only explains what the certification requires. It does not say that any particular product is certified. Read the product page and label for each item, for example bamboo sleepwear for women, if you want to know what applies.
Ask when you are unsure
If FSC is stated and you are unsure what it means, you can ask the seller. A serious seller can say which part of the product is covered and who is certified. If the answer is unclear, that is a sign you should look into it further.
Frequently asked questions
Who checks that a manufacturer follows the FSC rules
An independent body does, checking the company at regular intervals. The company cannot simply declare itself certified. It needs a certificate and a licence number.
Does FSC certification mean the whole product is certified
Not necessarily. It depends on what the certification covers. Read the text by the mark and ask the seller if it is not clear. A women's long-sleeved bamboo T-shirt has its own product page with details.
Can a certification be lost
Yes. If a company no longer follows the rules, it can lose its certificate and may then not use the mark. That is why it is a good idea to ask whether the certificate is still valid.
