Liv Bargman

30 Years of FSC UK: Looking back at 2015-2025

This year marks a special milestone, FSC UK’s 30th anniversary. As we celebrate three decades of promoting responsible forest management, we’ve taken the opportunity to reflect on our journey. In this article, we look back at the progress made over the past 10 years (you can also revisit our highlights from 1995-2005 and 2005-2015).

December 8, 2025

Reflections from Rosie Teasdale, Executive Director of FSC UK since 2015

"After several years in various roles within the organisation, I took on the position of Executive Director of FSC UK in March 2015. As FSC UK entered its third decade, the "firsts" became less frequent, but we continue to have reasons to celebrate. Notably, over the last decade, consumer recognition of the FSC logo in the UK has increased from 44% to 76%. With the introduction of FSC's Ecosystem Services Procedure, Mull & Iona Community Trust became the first UK certificate holder to have their additional biodiversity and recreation impacts verified in 2023. Recent years have seen increased interest in FSC for products such as viscose and natural rubber. I certainly didn't expect my career to involve conversations about fashion and fast cars!

FSC UK’s success is, however, not just about growth and innovation. It is built on the continued support of our members, certificate holders, and promotional licence holders. While we rightly celebrate new achievements, sector expansion, and key milestones—such as our 30th Anniversary this year—we must also acknowledge that our progress depends on those who remain committed to the mission every single day.

In my early days with FSC UK, we ran a poster competition, and the winning poster used the strapline 'FSC - putting forests first to make them last'. We are grateful for the firsts, but also for the lasting commitments - it is these that will help to ensure we have Forests For All Forever."

Liv Bargman

FSC UK's highlights 2015-2025

2015
- Our consumer survey revealed that 44% of UK consumers recognised the FSC logo, up from 19% in 2007.
2016
- We reached 30,000 Chain of Custody certificate holders globally, with 2,277 certificate holders in the UK.
2017
- 423 million cubic meters of FSC-certified wood was harvested globally (which accounted for 11% of global wood production).
- Some of the FSC UK team attended the FSC General Assembly in Vancouver, Canada.
Rosie, Beth, Tallulah, and Owen from the FSC UK team at the FSC General Assembly 2017
2018
- We reached 100 promotional licence holders in the UK.
2019
- We reached over 200 million hectares of forests certified around the world, with over 40,000 chain of custody certificate holders and 1,000 promotional licence holders.
2020
- Over 500 chain of custody group scheme members in the UK.
- Recognition of the FSC logo continued to increase amongst UK consumers, with 67% recognising the logo.
The FSC UK team in January 2020
2021
- Seven new construction projects, built by Lendlease Europe, achieved FSC-certified project certification in the UK. Learn more about FSC project certification.
- Rosie and Amy from FSC UK joined FSC International staff at COP26 in Glasgow for a week of networking and side events. The side events convened speakers from key sectors that benefit from, promote, support and invest in sustainable forest management, forest conservation and restoration.
2022
- Our consumer survey found that 70% of UK consumers prefer to buy forest products bearing the FSC logo and 65% would have a more positive opinion of a brand or retailer if they saw the FSC labels on their products.
2023
- Ardura Community Forest, on the Isle of Mull, achieved the first Ecosystem Services (now Verified Impact) Verification in the UK. Find out more about the project, led by Mull & Iona Community Trust, which is restoring temperate rainforest.
2024
- Pirelli launched the World's first bike tyre made using FSC-certified natural rubber. Read more about the tyres.
2025
- The Woodland Trust were the first major landowner in the UK to achieve FSC Verified Impact certification, demonstrating how their management will help to restore and enhance soil and water quality.
- We celebrated FSC UK's 30th anniversary at the FSC-certified WWF Living Planet Centre, looking back at our past achievements and looking ahead to the future. Watch our highlights from the day in the video below.

The path ahead

"Looking forward to the next decade, or even the next 30 years, we are all too aware of the challenges", Rosie reflected. "We need to clarify FSC's role when it comes to mitigating climate changes and biodiversity loss and navigate new regulations and increasing demand for transparency of supply chains. Only by continuing to work together, balancing environmental, social and economic demands, can we hope to deliver on FSC's mission.

Ultimately, we need to care. As Dr Seuss advised in The Lorax 'Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.' Thanks to all those who have cared and continue to care for FSC and for the world's forests. Let's continue to put forests first to make them last."