FSC France: Interest in wood product certification remains strong

Despite a decline in environmental concerns within a tense global context, Guillaume Dahringer, Director of Forests and Supply Chains at FSC France, observes that interest in wood product certification "remains stable." Consumers continue to perceive these labels as "a guarantee that goods do not contribute to deforestation and that they have a positive impact on the environment." In France, the FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council®) label enjoys the highest level of trust in the world. The threshold of 1,000 FSC certificates has been surpassed, with more than 2,300 eco-certified sites. These sites are distributed among approximately 25% wood industry players, 50% timber traders, and 25% printers.

The work carried out with companies aims to ensure both the availability of supply and the clarity of demand. This involves developing the supply of certified timber, in both public and private forests, while simultaneously stimulating demand, particularly in the construction sector, identified as a key driver. Institutional players are also committed to this approach. CNP Assurances, France's leading private forest owner, aims for 100% of its forests to be FSC-certified by 2030, representing 55,000 hectares. Other stakeholders, such as Macif and the CFBL cooperative, are also following this trend.

Faced with the growing risks to forests, the FSC encourages foresters to strengthen their actions in favor of biodiversity – the cornerstone of the forest ecosystem. This involves taking active action, "by limiting monocultures and taking into account the dangers associated with drought, extreme heat, and pests such as bark beetles. Richer biodiversity helps to reduce these risks." FSC also helps to ease sometimes complex dialogue with society by providing a framework for exchange with local stakeholders, associations, and residents. This benefit is regularly highlighted by foresters themselves!

In the construction sector, the arguments rest both on the tangible expression of environmental commitment and on securing long-term supply. This issue is all the more important given recent market disruptions, particularly in Germany, with the bark beetle crisis leading to shortages, price increases, and higher processing costs. These difficulties are partly linked to past forest management choices, such as the development of large coniferous monocultures that are now vulnerable to pests. Forest management thus has a direct impact on the availability, price, and quality of the resource. But a central question remains: are construction stakeholders prepared to pay more for eco-certified timber to recognize and reward the changes in forestry practices?

Photo credit: ©Stefan Lechne