COC%20Basics.pdf
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WHAT IS COC CERTIFICATION? - - -- - -- - -- -- - -- - -- -- - -- - -- - -- -- - -- - -- ---- - -- - -- -- - COC certification allows companies that manufacture and market forest products to label them with the FSC brand consistent with FSC policies. WHY IS COC NECESSARY? -- -- -- -- -- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- ----- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - While consumers already select forest products based on species, grade, visual characteristics, etc., they now can identify products that provide an assurance of social and environmental responsibility on the part of the producer . To do this, the FSC system requires that material be tracked from the certified source, through the manufacturing process. This aspect of t he system is the basis for any credible certification system and is the link between consumer preference and responsible, on the ground performance . WHO CONDUCTS THE CERTIFICATION ASSESSMENT? ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---------- ---- FSC accredits independent, 3rd party auditors to conduct COC certification assessments of interested companies. Although the accred ited certifiers assess companies based on FSC’s policies for COC, each certifier uses his own evaluative process . This allows FSC to remain outside the assessment process and supports the integrity of the policies and the FSC system. WHO MAKES SUR E T HAT COC WORKS? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The accredited certifiers audit systems to track certified material in each client’s specific context. The certifiers review each client annually in their handling of certified wood in the production process. FSC then conducts WHAT IS CHAIN -OF-CUSTODY? Chain-of-Custody (COC) is the path taken by raw materials harvested from an FSC-certified source through processing, manufacturing, distribution, and printing until it is a final product ready for sale to the end consumer. F O R E S T S T E W A R D S H I P C O U N C I L C e r t i f i c a t i o n f o r M a n u f a c t u r e r s , D i s t r i b u t o r s , R e ta i l e r s , a n d P r i n t e r s C H A I N - O F - C U S T O D Y annual audits of each accredited certifier to make sure they are following established policy guidelin es for the COC process. WILL COC CERTIFICATION INTERFERE WITH MY NORMAL BUSINESS PRACTICES? -------------------------- Most likely not. From a production standpoint, there are almost always simple, cost-effective ways to monitor input and output of FSC- certified wood content in a manufacturing and/or distribution operation. From a management standpoint, the purchase and sales of a company’s certified wood inventory is done in the context of the company’s existing record keeping procedures and is kept in the strictest confidence by a contractual agreement with the certifier. IF I AM A RETAILER, DO I NEED COC CE RTIFIC ATION TO SELL FSC PRO DUC TS ? ------ Not necessarily. If you are not changing the product’s form or packaging in any way, but will simply resell it as a retailer, marketing it as an FSC-certified product, there is no need to be COC certified. If you will be altering the package (including breaking open plastic wrapping to sell pieces that are not individually marked with the FSC label) or will remanufacture the material, then yes, you will need COC certification to sell the finished product as FSC-certifie d. w w w . f s c u s. o r g PLEASE NOTE : the abo ve answer appli es to retailers selling items to the general public. If you are a retailer selling to professional builders that are requesting FSC certification for LEED or other green building programs, you will need your own chain-of-custody certificate to provide to the professional customer as evidence.
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Transcript of COC%20Basics.pdf
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WHAT IS COC CERTIFICATION? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
COC certification allows companies thatmanufacture and market forest products tolabel them with the FSC brand consistent withFSC policies.
WHY IS COC NECESSARY? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
While consumers already select forestproducts based on species, grade, visualcharacteristics, etc., they now can identifyproducts that provide an assurance of socialand environmental responsibility on the partof the producer. To do this, the FSC systemrequires that material be tracked from thecertified source, through the manufacturingprocess. This aspect of the system is the basisfor any credible certification system and is thelink between consumer preference andresponsible, on the ground performance.
WHO CONDUCTS THE CERTIFICATIONASSESSMENT? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - FSC accredits independent, 3rd party auditorsto conduct COC certification assessments ofinterested companies. Although the accreditedcertifiers assess companies based on FSCspolicies for COC, each certifier uses his ownevaluative process. This allows FSC to remainoutside the assessment process and supportsthe integrity of the policies and the FSC system.
WHO MAKES SURE THAT COC WORKS? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The accredited certifiers audit systems to trackcertified material in each clients specificcontext. The certifiers review each clientannually in their handling of certified wood inthe production process. FSC then conducts
WHAT IS CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY?Chain-of-Custody (COC) is the path taken by raw materials harvested froman FSC-certified source through processing, manufacturing, distribution,and printing until it is a final product ready for sale to the end consumer.
FOREST STEW
ARDSHIP COU
NCIL
Certification
for Manufac
turers,
Distributors,
Retailers, and
Printers
CHAIN-OF-C
USTODY
annual audits of each accredited certifier tomake sure they are following establishedpolicy guidelines for the COC process.
WILL COC CERTIFICATION INTERFERE WITHMY NORMAL BUSINESS PRACTICES? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Most likely not. From a production standpoint,there are almost always simple, cost-effectiveways to monitor input and output of FSC-certified wood content in a manufacturingand/or distribution operation. From amanagement standpoint, the purchase andsales of a companys certified wood inventoryis done in the context of the companysexisting record keeping procedures and is keptin the strictest confidence by a contractualagreement with the certifier.
IF I AM A RETAILER, DO I NEED COC CERTIFICATION TO SELL FSC PRODUCTS? - - - - - - Not necessarily. If you are not changing theproducts form or packaging in any way, butwill simply resell it as a retailer, marketing it asan FSC-certified product, there is no need tobe COC certified. If you will be altering thepackage (including breaking open plasticwrapping to sell pieces that are notindividually marked with the FSC label) or willremanufacture the material, then yes, you willneed COC certification to sell the finishedproduct as FSC-certified.
www.fscus.or
g
PLEASE NOTE : the above answer applies to retailersselling items to the general public. If you are a retailerselling to professional builders that are requesting FSCcertification for LEED or other green building programs,you will need your own chain-of-custody certificate toprovide to the professional customer as evidence.
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There is a several step process that must be complete before a companyis granted a COC certificate:
1. Contact an FSC-accredited certifier.A complete list of certifiers can be found at www.fscus.org/certifiers.
2. Submit an application to the certifier.This application will give the certifier the necessary information todetermine if COC certification is feasible for the client company.
3. Complete an on-site audit.The certifier will send a qualified inspector to the manufacturing site todetermine that appropriate systems will be in place to keep records ofcertified inventory. Upon completion of the inspection, the certifierwill send an assessment report to the client for review.
4. Certification approval.If the inspector deems that the facility and processes in place areadequate, he will grant a COC certification. The client and the certifierwill both sign a contract agreeing to the terms of the assessment.
5. Annual audit.The certifier will conduct an on-site audit annual of each client to ensurethat the terms of the certification agreement are being followed. Certifiersalso reserve the right to conduct short-notice inspections of the clientsfacilities and records.
for more information, please contact:
FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCILUS212 Third Avenue North, Suite 280
Minneapolis, MN 55401
PHONE: 612.353.4511
FAX: 612.208.1565
E-MAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: www.fscus.org
FSC Trademark Forest Stewardship Council A.C. All Rights Reserved FSC-SECR-0004
IF I AM A PRINTER OR PRODUCE PACKAGING,DO I NEED COC CERTIFICATION TO SELL FSCPAPER TO MY CUSTOMERS? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you wish to represent the paper as certified,and/or print the FSC logo on the final product,then yes, COC certification is required.
IF I AM WORKING ON SUPPLYING PRODUCTSFOR A LEED-CERTIFIED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, DO I NEED COC CERTIFICATION? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The last person in the chain-of-ownership formaterials being supplied to the constructionproject does NOT need COC certification, but thecompany that those materials are being receivedfrom DOES. For example, a contractor orders 30sheets of plywood from a local lumberyard for aproject that he himself will be installing at theconstruction site. The contractor will not need aCOC certification since he is the end consumer,but the lumberyard does need COC certification toprove that the materials have been tracked froman FSC-certified source. The contractor will receivean invoice from the lumberyard with the FSC-COCnumber clearly stated on the line item for theplywood, which will be needed as documentationfor the pending LEED certification.
HOW DO I OBTAIN COC CERTIFICATION FOR MY COMPANY?
