Frequently Asked Questions - FSC Certification

FSC certification is an international forest certification from the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) recognizes companies whose practices meet the most stringent requirements for sustainable forest management. Compliance with the requirements of this certification is verified annually by an independent (third-party) certification body. In addition to ensuring the protection of forest ecosystems and rare or threatened wildlife species, FSC requires respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples, local communities, and workers.

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Forest certification ensures the sustainability, traceability and legality of our sources of supply of virgin and recycled fibre. It also helps meet our clients’ responsible sourcing requirements for forest resources.

It may seem counterintuitive to say that FSC also ensures the traceability of recycled fibre, even though it is a forest certification. FSC has provided this option for identifying a product with recycled content because, after all, recycled fibre is the best way to maximize the yield of a tree. Although FSC certification is primarily focused on responsible forest management, it also recognizes the importance of recycled fibers in a sustainable approach to resource use, as they help reduce pressure on forests. Including recycled fibers in the FSC process helps close the loop—not only by managing forests sustainably, but also by maximizing the value of resources that have already been extracted.

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In Canada, there are four forest certification systems: those of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

There are several forest certification systems. Each system has its own specific features, but they all share the same goal: sustainable forest management. This decision was driven by the fact that many environmental NGOs have historically favored FSC due to its stricter social and environmental requirements, and because it allows our clients to display FSC trademarks on their packaging to demonstrate their commitment to the responsible use of forest resources.

Cascades uses two types of FSC labels to identify its certified products. FSC MIX: This label identifies products made from a combination of FSC-certified virgin fiber and/or recycled materials and/or controlled virgin fiber. FSC RECYCLED: This label identifies products made from 100% recycled fiber, sourced from verified post-consumer and/or pre-consumer sources.

Issues related to the sustainable management of Canada’s forests relate primarily to woodland caribou, the protection of threatened or vulnerable species, the rights of Indigenous peoples, and the conservation and management of intact forest landscapes.

Globally, the main challenges related to sustainable forest management are deforestation and forest degradation, climate change and illegal logging.

Although many of our products are made from 100% recycled fibers, it is sometimes necessary to use virgin fibers in certain products. This approach allows us to ensure the quality, durability, and performance required to meet the specific needs of our customers. Since fibers cannot be recycled indefinitely, the addition of virgin fibers is essential to maintaining balance in the paper cycle. In this context, sourcing virgin fibers from sustainably managed forests becomes especially important.

While recycled fibers are at the core of our circular economy, the use of virgin fibers can still be necessary at times—particularly for technical, quality, or regulatory reasons. For example, the type of fiber affects strength, softness, and stiffness, and virgin fibers offer greater consistency in quality. Additionally, recycled fiber cannot be reused endlessly. Furthermore, some products (such as those intended for the food or hygiene industries) may require standards that necessitate the use of virgin fibers.

In short, combining recycled and virgin fibers helps optimize both product performance and availability, while supporting responsible resource management.

100% of Cascades’ supply of raw materials (virgin and recycled fibre) meets the strict requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council standards below:

The quantities for each FSC input (post-consumer fibre, pre-consumer fibre, FSC 100%, FSC Mix, FSC Recycled and FSC Controlled Wood) vary according to market conditions and raw material availability.

Whether tropical, Mediterranean, temperate or boreal, forests are the habitat of 80% of the world's animals and plants. Overexploitation or mismanagement of our forests can be a threat to biodiversity. While we have always preferred recycled fiber in our products and will continue to do so, depending on the availability of recycled fiber and the specific technical needs of certain customers, the use of virgin fiber and paper is sometimes unavoidable. Cascades sources as much as possible from well-managed forests in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification standards.

An FSC-certified forest must meet some of the highest environmental, social and economic standards available. This includes maintaining the biodiversity, productivity and ecological balance of the forest. In Canada, FSC certificate holders must comply with the FSC Canada-wide standard for forest management. In this standard, special attention is given to the boreal populations of woodland caribou.

Opt for FSC-certified products at every opportunity. Look for the FSC label, including the famous checkmark-and-tree logo, on your tissue products, packaging and wood products.