FSC and circular bio-economy
Overconsumption drives a triple crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and social inequity. A circular economy can reduce waste and enhance the sustainability of products and supply chains.
FSC Circularity Hub
What is FSC’s role in the circular economy?
As a leader in responsible forest management, FSC operates the world’s most rigorous and trusted forest certification system. FSC is committed to protecting healthy, resilient forests for all, forever. But FSC also recognises the need to expand the organisation’s impact in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss.
That is why circular economy principles are on FSC’s strategic agenda. The world is shifting toward a circular system that designs out waste, keeps products and materials in use, and regenerates natural systems.
FSC is actively supporting this transition, helping its certificate holders and stakeholders engage in the circular economy. With FSC Recycled already serving as a circular certification tool, FSC aims to develop more solutions that align with the evolving circular business models being adopted globally.
Still dedicated to certifying actively managed forests, the aim is to contribute to keeping forest-based fibres in use for as long as possible, avoiding their disposal. This will reduce the pressure on the environment, the forests, and their ecosystems.
Why is FSC engaging in the circular economy?
Forest-based materials, like responsibly harvested wood, are key to circularity due to their renewability, biodegradability, versatility, carbon storage, and potential for innovation.
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Global demand for forest-based products is expected to increase by a third by 2035 and quadruple by 2050. As outlined by WWF, the world’s forests cannot meet this rising demand sustainably, which threatens biodiversity and may increase illegal logging.
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Legislation, particularly in Europe, is driving companies to adopt circular business models through various means, including public procurement, financial incentives, and product regulations.
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Companies and organisations part of FSC are already embedding circularity principles across their supply chains. As part of FSC's mission to safeguard forests, the organisation is further exploring how circularity connects with FSC certification.
Introducing the Circularity Hub: Integrating circular economy principles across FSC
In 2023, FSC launched the FSC Circularity Hub, a dedicated accelerator that translates FSC's strategic circularity goal into actionable roadmaps and initiatives. The Circularity Hub focusses on scaling up existing FSC solutions, exploring new solutions both within and beyond FSC’s standards, and fostering partnerships with organisations and donors to promote circularity.
By working closely with members and stakeholders, the Circularity Hub aims to drive collaboration and impact in this critical area.
The Circularity Hub explores five key areas, which are:
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Promote existing solutions
FSC is raising awareness about FSC Recycled and FSC Mix products and their benefits. FSC is engaging with industries to raise awareness of how it supports the transition to bio-based materials and helps organisations meet legislative, customer, and strategic requirements.
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Explore non-forest bio-based materials
The Circularity Hub is analysing the use of non-forest bio-based materials such as wheat, grass, and cotton in FSC-certified products to explore the potential of and FSC’s approach to these materials in the future.
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Remove barriers to circularity in Chain of Custody standards
Circular business models like leasing and take-back are not yet covered by FSC’s standards, but they’re increasingly adopted by companies. FSC and the Circularity Hub are analysing these models to suggest potential adaptations. Read more about the work here.
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Provide circularity compliance
The hub is analysing key legislation and voluntary standards related to the circular economy to propose possible add-ons to FSC’s standards. These proposals are aimed at increasing FSC’s contribution to companies’ compliance with circular requirements and sustainable business practices
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Explore cascading principles
The Circularity Hub is examining how FSC can keep forest-based fibers in use longer, whether through existing solutions like FSC Recycled or by introducing new incentives or changes in the FSC framework.
Get involved
The success of FSC’s circularity work depends on input from stakeholders. The Circularity Hub has already consulted hundreds of stakeholders for ideas, feedback, and other inputs that shape FSC’s efforts to contribute to the circular economy as a global certification scheme and the hub will be working hard to include more points of view as FSC work progresses.
Get in touch
Contact The Circularity Hub at circularity@fsc.org, and they will get back to you promptly.
Find out more
Visit FSC.org/circularity to get more information about FSC’s work on circularity
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