FSC Forest Products: CoC Evidence and Trademark Claim Review
FSC can support responsible-sourcing and supply-chain traceability claims for wood, paper, packaging, and related forest products. For manufacturers and cross-border sellers, the key is not to present FSC as a universal market-entry requirement or sales-performance tool. The key is to confirm whether supplier certificates, invoice claims, batch records, and trademark authorization support the specific product page.
Evidence Review Points
| Record | Purpose | Common risk |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier certificate | Confirm supplier certificate validity and scope | Certificate holder, product group, or validity period does not match actual purchase |
| Invoice and sales claim | Connect purchase batch, FSC claim type, and shipped product | Invoice lacks required claim wording or claim type is inconsistent |
| CoC records | Support chain of custody and batch traceability | Inventory, conversion, mixing, or outsourced processing records are incomplete |
| Product and material scope | Confirm whether FSC 100%, FSC Mix, FSC Recycled, or another authorized expression applies | Material claim is expanded beyond covered scope |
| Trademark and listing wording | Confirm authorization for mark, standard name, and packaging expression | Trademark is used for uncovered products, images, or advertising assets |
Claim Boundaries
- State whether the claim applies to wood, paper, packaging, component, or finished product.
- Do not expand a supplier certificate or single-batch evidence beyond the covered scope.
- After supplier, material, processor, or batch changes, review CoC evidence again.
- Packaging, e-commerce images, manuals, and advertising assets should use the same authorized expression.
Green Ark's Recommendation
Green Ark (Shenzhen) Certification Co., Ltd. recommends building a checklist that links supplier certificate, invoice claim, CoC records, product scope, and listing wording. FSC-related claims are suitable for customer-facing pages only when supply-chain evidence and trademark authorization are consistent.
