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Read the complete certification claim first, then verify the lumber’s species, grade, dimensions, treatment and structural rating for your project. An FSC or SFI logo describes a sourcing or recycled-content system; it does not, by itself, identify the board’s strength, durability or suitability for a particular use.
Start with the exact claim, not just the logo
Certification marks answer a narrow question: how forest-based material was sourced, tracked or described under a particular program. They do not replace the product information a builder needs. Two boards can carry certification marks yet differ in species, grade, moisture condition, dimensions, preservative treatment, engineering rating, price and availability.
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When comparing lumber, write down the wording beside the mark. Record whether it says FSC 100%, FSC Recycled, FSC Mix, an SFI chain-of-custody claim, or SFI Certified Sourcing. If a percentage or content category appears, copy it exactly. That wording determines what the claim actually covers.
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How FSC labels differ
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) uses three principal on-product label types. Its label guidance explains the distinctions and the claims that may accompany each mark: FSC claim labels and logo guidance.
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FSC 100%
FSC 100% indicates that all material used in the labeled product comes from FSC-certified forests. It is the FSC claim most directly focused on certified forest origin. The label still does not state the lumber species, visual or machine grade, dimensions, moisture content, treatment or structural capacity. Those details must come from the grade stamp, product specification or supplier.
FSC Recycled
FSC Recycled indicates a product made from 100% recycled material. The claim is about recycled input, not about a particular forest of origin for newly harvested fiber. For a solid-lumber purchase, confirm how the supplier applies the claim to that product and request the product documentation if the material will be used in a regulated assembly.
FSC Mix
FSC Mix identifies a mixed sourcing claim. FSC chain-of-custody controls govern which eligible material claims can be combined in a product group. “Mix” should therefore not be read as interchangeable with FSC 100% or FSC Recycled, and it should not be treated as a promise that every fiber came from an FSC-certified forest. Read the full claim printed with the mark and ask the seller to explain the product’s claim when the label is abbreviated.
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Why FSC chain of custody matters
FSC describes chain of custody as controls that identify and track forest-based material through sourcing, processing, labeling and sale. The system is intended to keep the claim associated with the material as it moves through manufacturing and distribution; it is not a lumber performance standard. More detail is available in FSC’s chain-of-custody explanation.
Only certified companies are authorized to apply FSC product labels. The U.S. FSC on-product-label guidance states: “Only FSC certified companies are authorized to place FSC labels onto products.” (Forest Stewardship Council U.S., On Product Labels.) If a seller cannot provide the exact claim or a credible certification reference, treat the logo as unverified until the paperwork is supplied.
How SFI labels differ
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) uses more than one type of label. Its on-product labels and claims guidance distinguishes chain-of-custody labels from the SFI Certified Sourcing label. The distinction is important because the two communicate different information.
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SFI chain-of-custody labels
SFI chain-of-custody labels communicate information about fiber from SFI-certified forests and/or recycled content. SFI provides multiple label options, depending on how certified content is calculated and which content categories apply. Some labels state a percentage or other specific content wording. Read that percentage and the accompanying terms rather than reducing every SFI chain-of-custody label to “certified wood.”
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SFI Certified Sourcing
SFI Certified Sourcing communicates responsible sourcing, but it does not claim that a stated percentage of the lumber comes from SFI-certified forests. SFI’s official wording is explicit: “The SFI Certified Sourcing label does not make claims about certified content.” (SFI On-Product Labels.) Do not substitute this label for an SFI chain-of-custody claim when a project specification calls for certified forest content.
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The program’s standards and rules provide additional definitions and requirements in the SFI 2022 Standards and Rules PDF. Use the current product label and supplier documentation for the transaction; a general standards document does not identify the content of a particular board.
FSC and SFI claims at a glance
| Label wording | What the claim indicates | What it does not tell you | What to verify with the seller |
|---|---|---|---|
| FSC 100% | All material used in the product comes from FSC-certified forests. | Species, grade, dimensions, treatment, moisture condition or structural rating. | The exact product claim, supplier certification details and the lumber’s technical specification. |
| FSC Recycled | The product is made from 100% recycled material. | Newly harvested forest origin, board strength, species or construction suitability. | How the claim applies to the product form you are buying and the product’s grade and performance documentation. |
| FSC Mix | A mixed sourcing claim controlled by FSC chain-of-custody rules. | That every fiber is from an FSC-certified forest, unless the complete claim says so; also no technical lumber properties. | The full claim, any accompanying wording and the supplier’s chain-of-custody information. |
| SFI chain of custody | Fiber and/or recycled-content information under an SFI chain-of-custody label; the exact option may include a percentage or content category. | A universal content percentage, species, grade or structural performance. | The precise percentage or content language printed on the label and documentation for the specific product group. |
| SFI Certified Sourcing | Responsible sourcing under SFI’s certified-sourcing requirements. | A claim that the lumber contains a particular percentage of SFI-certified forest material. | Whether the project requires certified content and, if so, whether the seller can provide an SFI chain-of-custody claim instead. |
A practical verification process when buying lumber
- Photograph or transcribe the mark. Capture the logo, the words beside it, percentages, claim codes and any product-group or certificate reference. A logo without its wording is incomplete evidence.
- Ask for the exact claim in writing. Request the wording that appears on the product, bundle label or invoice. Ask whether the claim applies to the boards themselves, a panel or a mixed shipment.
- Check the organization’s source. For FSC, ask for the supplier’s certification details and use the FSC public search resources linked from its chain-of-custody and on-product-label pages. Confirm that the company selling the labeled product is the certified entity or is providing material through an authorized certified chain.
- Clarify SFI terminology. Ask whether the mark is SFI chain of custody or SFI Certified Sourcing. If it is chain of custody, record every percentage and content category. If it is Certified Sourcing, do not describe it in your paperwork as a certified-forest-content percentage.
- Match the item to the purchase order. Verify species, nominal and actual dimensions, grade, length, moisture condition, treatment, end use and quantity. Make sure replacement stock carries the same certification claim if the project documents require continuity.
- Keep the evidence. Save the label photograph, invoice, supplier email, certificate reference and technical data sheet with the project records. This prevents a later substitution from being mistaken for the originally specified material.
Check project fit separately from certification
Certification does not establish whether a board can perform in a wall, floor, roof, deck or exposed application. Evaluate the construction requirements independently.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Species and product type: Confirm the species or species group and whether the item is solid sawn lumber, engineered wood, appearance stock or another product.
- Grade: Use the grade required by the drawings, span tables, code official or engineer. A certified label does not replace a grade stamp or design value.
- Dimensions and tolerances: Check nominal size, actual size, length, straightness and allowable defects. Verify that the delivered material matches the schedule rather than assuming all certified stock is dimensionally identical.
- Treatment and exposure: For ground contact, exterior exposure, fire-retardant requirements or pest protection, obtain the treatment designation and application limitations. The FSC or SFI mark does not identify preservative chemistry or use class.
- Structural rating: Where the lumber carries load, confirm the required span, strength values, stiffness rating or engineering report. Ask the supplier for the applicable rating documentation.
- Moisture and installation condition: Determine whether the project calls for kiln-dried, heat-treated or another moisture condition, and plan storage so the material does not gain damaging moisture before installation.
- Price and availability: Obtain a current local quote. Certification sources do not establish a universal price premium or guarantee stock, so compare delivered cost, lead time and substitutions with the same care as the claim.
Questions to ask before accepting a quote
For an FSC-labeled product
- Which FSC claim is printed on this exact product: 100%, Recycled or Mix?
- What is the seller’s FSC certification reference, and does it cover this product group?
- Can you provide the species, grade, dimensions, treatment and structural information separately from the FSC claim?
For an SFI-labeled product
- Is this an SFI chain-of-custody label or SFI Certified Sourcing?
- If it is chain of custody, what percentage or content wording appears on the label?
- If it is Certified Sourcing, can you supply an SFI chain-of-custody product if the specification requires certified forest content?
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Treating every logo as the same claim
FSC 100%, FSC Recycled and FSC Mix describe different material pathways. SFI chain of custody and SFI Certified Sourcing also differ. Copy the words, not just the initials, into the purchase record.
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Assuming certification proves structural quality
A sourcing certification is not a grade stamp, span table or treatment label. Require the technical documents that govern the installation, even when the environmental claim is fully verified.
Using a supplier’s shorthand
Terms such as “green lumber,” “certified wood” or “responsibly sourced” can omit the distinction a specification depends on. Ask the seller to reproduce the on-product claim and identify the certifying organization.
Accepting a substitution without checking the claim
Availability can change between quotation and delivery. If a supplier proposes a different species, mill, product group or label, obtain approval and new documentation before installation. A substitute may satisfy the structural requirement but carry a different certification claim, or vice versa.
Choosing between FSC and SFI for a project
Neither of the cited label guides establishes that one program is universally superior. Select the claim that matches the project specification, the owner’s sourcing policy and the documentation your team must retain. If the requirement says “FSC 100%,” an FSC Mix or SFI Certified Sourcing label is not an equivalent statement. If the requirement calls for responsible sourcing without a certified-content percentage, an SFI Certified Sourcing claim may address that wording, subject to the project’s approved standards.
When no certification program is mandated, compare the complete claim and the supplier’s documentation alongside performance, availability and cost. The environmentally meaningful choice is the one whose wording you can accurately explain and whose lumber properties meet the design.
A concise buying checklist
- Exact FSC or SFI label wording recorded.
- Any percentage or content category copied from the label.
- Supplier certification or chain-of-custody information obtained.
- Species, product type, grade, dimensions and lengths confirmed.
- Treatment, exposure class and moisture condition checked.
- Structural rating or engineering documentation verified when required.
- Price, lead time and local availability compared.
- Label photographs and supplier records filed with the job documents.
The reliable method is simple: interpret the certification claim precisely, verify the supply-chain documentation, and then judge the lumber against the project’s technical requirements. Keeping those two evaluations separate prevents a sustainability label from being mistaken for a performance specification.
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