For more visit: Pure Label - Mixed Sources Label - Recycled Label

Product Label

The FSC on-product label identifies forest products that meet FSC’s environmental and social standards. 

Only companies that are FSC chain of custody certified are allowed to place the FSC label on a certified product.Certified companies must place their certification code (e.g. XXX-COC-####) on the FSC product label.

Click on the links below to learn more about product labeling and logo use. 

• Description of Product labels
• Graphical requirements for Product labels
• List of FSC-certified papers and their corresponding product labels.
• Documents: Standards, Guidelines and Fact Sheets

Description top

There are three types of  FSC labels that can be found on FSC-certified products. These labels identify the type of wood fibre in the product, and who produced that product:

• The FSC Pure label identifies products manufactured with 100% FSC-certified material; 
• The FSC Mixed Sources label identifies products manufactured with a mixture of FSC-certified material, recycled material, and controlled material. There are three possible combinations of these materials. Two of these combinations contain post-consumer recycled fibre and the corresponding labels for these mixtures can be displayed with, or without, the recycled ‘mobius’ loop. 
• The FSC Recycled label identifies products manufactured with 100% post-consumer recycled material;

Graphical Requirements top

1. Who can use the Product label?
2. Identifying the parts of an FSC Product label
3. Full Label or Minimum Label
4. Product Statements
5. Recycled (mobius) loop
6. Orientation and Size
7. Color
8. Exclusion Zone
9. Border

1. Who Can Use the Product Label?

Only companies that are FSC chain of custody certified are allowed to place the FSC label on a certified product. Certified companies must place their certification code (e.g. XXX-COC-####) on the FSC product label.

Upon certification, companies will receive a FSC Brand Pack (a CD) that contains high-resolution label graphics in standard colors and formats.

The various FSC product labels are identified by code in the FSC Brand Pack.

• FSC 100% =   FSC_100
• FSC Recycled =  FSC_RE_1
• FSC Mixed Sources =  
• FSC_MS_1 (FSC-certified, recycled and controlled fibre)
• FSC_MS_2 (same as above, includes recycled ‘mobius’ loop)
• FSC_MS_3 (FSC-certified and controlled fibre)
• FSC_MS_4 (FSC-certified and recycled fibre)
• FSC_MS_5 (same as above, includes recycled ‘mobius’ loop)

Certified companies must get approval for the use of the FSC product label by sending an electronic copy of the label design to their certifier.

FSC certified companies can use alternative colors for FSC product labels upon request from their certifier if required by design or print. For example, the document will be printed in two-color process, or the background of the document is blue and the client would like a white label with this background.  

2. Identifying the parts of an FSC label

The example used below is the FSC Mixed Sources (FSC_MS_2) Label

3. Full Label or Minimum Label

You have the option of using the full FSC product label or the minimum FSC product label. The main difference between these labels is that the minimum product label does not include a product statement, has a shorter © claim, and does not include the FSC website.

The minimum label is intended for use when using the full label would interfere with the design, look or feel of the product it is being applied to, or when the product is to small to support the full label. 

The FSC Brand Pack (CD) only includes graphics for the full FSC product labels. If you would like to use the minimum FSC product label you must make the necessary changes yourself.

4. Product Statements

Only the full FSC product labels require that there be a product statement. If you choose to use the minimum FSC product label you do not need to include this.

FSC 100%

• FSC_100:  From well-managed forests.

FSC Recycled

• FSC_RE_1: Supporting responsible use of forest resources.

FSC Mixed Sources

• FSC_MS_1: Product groups from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre.
• FSC_MS_2: Product groups from well-managed forests, controlled sources and recycled wood or fibre (same as FSC_MS_1 but includes recycled ‘mobius’ loop)
• FSC_MS_3: Product group from well-managed forests and other controlled sources.
• FSC_MS_4: Product groups from well-managed forests and recycled wood or fibre
  FSC_MS_5: Product groups from well-managed forests and recycled wood or fibre (same as FSC_MS_1 but includes recycled ‘mobius’ loop)

5. Recycled (Mobius) Loop

The FSC logo can be paired with the recycled ‘mobius’ loop if the product contains post-consumer recycled fibre. The percentage that appears within the loop is only the post-consumer fibre content; it does not include pre-consumer fibre.

6. Orientation and Size

The FSC product label can be in a landscape or portrait orientation; with the FSC check tree logo on the left-hand side of the label (landscape), or at the top of the label (portrait).

Landscape (Full Label)

The FSC label must be placed at a minimum height of 11 mm. The height is measured as the distance between the top of the check tree logo and the bottom of the initials FSC.

Portrait (Full Label)

The FSC label must be placed at a minimum width of 19 mm. The width is measured as the distance between the edge of the text. 

Minimum Elements (Portrait or Landscape)

The following 'minimum elements' sizes are guidelines only. Upon request from your certifier, smaller labels are allowed. 

The height is measured as the distance between the top of the check tree logo and the bottom of the initials FSC.

The width is measured as the distance between the edge of the text.

7. Color

The FSC Brand Pack (CD) only provides the FSC product labels in positive and negative contrast for three standard colors; white, black and "FSC green".

"FSC Green" is:  Pantone: 378;  CMYK: 34% Cyan, 0% Magenta, 100% Yellow, 60% Black; RGB: 67 Red, 86 Green, 8 Blue.

FSC certified companies can use alternative colors for FSC product labels upon request from their certifier if required by the design or print of the piece. For example, the document will be printed in two-color process, or the background of the document is blue and the client would like a white label with this background.  

There must be enough contrast for  the label to be clearly seen. For example, a red label on a white background is acceptable; a black label on a dark blue background is not.

8. Exclusion Zone

The FSC product label must have an area of clear space around the logo equivalent to twice the height of the letters ‘FSC’.

9. Border

While the FSC product labels provided in the Brand Pack (CD) have a border delineating their boundaries, this is not necessary. You can remove the border if you wish. 

Documents: Standards, Guidelines, Fact Sheets Back to top

Trademark Standards

Guidance and Discussion Notes

Fact Sheets