FSC defends integrity measures as critics push for reform
FSC rejects claims of widespread fraud, citing new reforms — but critics warn trust is eroding. “There is no more time for delays,” says Peter Feilberg, Executive Director at Preferred by Nature.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has defended its integrity record after criticism from former integrity chief Phil Guillery, who estimated that up to 30% of FSC-labelled claims were false.
Guillery, who led FSC’s integrity work until 2021, argued in an interview with Preferred by Nature that loopholes in the chain of custody standard have long enabled companies to pass off non-certified timber as certified.
Peter Feilberg, Executive Director of Preferred by Nature, backs Guillery’s concerns and dismisses FSC’s suggestion that the figures are outdated. “The problem with integrity in the Chain of Custody standard has been known for more than a decade, yet FSC has failed to implement a solution,” he said. “Phil Guillery is probably the most credible expert source on this issue, having served as FSC’s Director of Integrity for ten years. He has consistently been vocal about the failure to improve this critical standard.”
FSC, in its response, welcomed open debate but said integrity discussions must be fact-based. “References to widespread false claims are based on information that does not reflect the system today,” it said.
Fraud remains widespread
The organisation highlighted recent reforms, including FSC Trace, a blockchain-powered platform for supply chain traceability, and collaborations with World Forest ID to apply scientific wood testing. It also cited actions against misconduct in Paulownia wood supply chains and a new Eurasia Integrity Workplan aimed at stopping Russian timber from entering certified markets.
“FSC’s claim that these concerns are outdated simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” Feilberg said. “Recent investigations, including those recently reported by The Guardian, confirm that fraud remains widespread.”
“Denying the facts will not solve the problem. FSC should work together with those raising these concerns to find a fast-track solution and restore the trust needed for FSC to continue creating real, positive impact,” said Peter Feilberg.
The dispute comes ahead of FSC’s 10th General Assembly later this month, where members will vote on reforms, including proposals to mandate volume reconciliation in supply chains.
Header photo: Timber from this plant in Lesosibirsk is likely to have been laundered via companies in Turkey and sold onto markets with FSC labels in Europe. | Photo: Benjamin Holst / Preferred by Nature
Last call to save the FSC?
For three decades, the Forest Stewardship Council has led the charge in responsible forest management, becoming the most successful certification system to date. But as FSC prepares for its 10th General Assembly, it's facing pivotal challenges. Issues of integrity, traceability, and trust threaten its survival. In this series leading up to the GA, we turn to key figures who have influenced and will be shaping the FSC's journey and ask: How can we secure its future?
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