Promotional Logo Use

The FSC logo can be used off-product for promotional or educational purposes, both by certified companies, and by approved non-certified companies.

• Off-product logo use by CERTIFIED companies
• Off-product logo use by NON-CERTIFIED companies
• Documents: Standards, Guidelines, Fact Sheets

Off-product logo use by CERTIFIED companies (back to top)

Download fact sheet.

Description

The FSC check tree logo can be used by certified companies to promote themselves as an FSC-certified company, or to promote their products as FSC-certified.

This type of FSC logo use is NOT the same as putting the FSC logo on a product to identify it as FSC-certified (=on-product logo use)

Certified companies must receive approval for ALL on-product and off-product logo usage from their certifier by sending them. 

1. Evidence to support use of FSC trademark (i.e. invoices, shipping documents etc.)
2. All promotional uses (not necessary if applicant can demonstrate knowledge of trademark use requirements)

Graphical Requirements

1. A certified company can use the FSC logo to promote itself in advertisements, brochures, business cards, etc. as FSC-certified.  To use the logo in such a way, the following requirements must be met:

• FSC logo: Minimum 10 mm, no text in the exclusion zone, appropriate color and contrast, © is in the correct scale and position.
• Promotional Claim: a) “The mark of responsible forestry”, b) “Responsible Forest Management”, or c) alternative claim that meets the general principles of the standard and is approved by Trademark Service Provider. NOTE: The use of the word ‘sustainable’ should be avoided.
• Certification code: This is the code provided to the certified company upon approval of their certification. E.g. ABC-COC-123
• Copyright Claim: Full claim “© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.”, or when there are space restrictions the minimum claim “© 1996 FSC” can be used.
• Website (optional): FSC International (www.fsc.org) or FSC Canada (www.fsccanada.org) website

When a certified company wants to use the FSC logo on corporate promotional material that is SMALL (i.e. business cards) it can use the following graphical elements alone:

• FSC logo: Minimum 10 mm, no text in the exclusion zone, appropriate color and contrast, © is in the right scale and position.
• Certification Code: This is the code provided to the certified company upon approval of their certification. E.g. XXX-COC-######

Examples:

2. A certified company can use the FSC logo to promote its products as FSC-certified in catalogues,  brochures etc.  To use the logo in such a way, the following requirements must be met:

•  The correct FSC on-product label (FSC Mixed Sources, FSC Recycled, FSC 100%) must be used to identify the product. For on-product requirements visit LINK
• The FSC label must be clearly linked to a specific product.

Examples:

Off-product logo use by NON-CERTIFIED companies
(back to top)

Download fact sheet.

Description

The FSC check tree logo can be used by non-certified companies or individuals for educational and promotional purposes. For example, if a magazine is featuring an article about responsible sourcing of forest products, or a conference is featuring a speaker that will be talking about FSC. This is called off-product logo use.

Non-certified companies cannot place the FSC label on a product. Only companies that are FSC chain of custody certified are allowed to place the FSC label on a certified product.

Conditions under which non-certified commercial organizations can apply for FSC trademark use:

• Promotion of finished FSC-certified products (packed/labeled) by non-certified commercial organizations is only allowed if:
• The products are to be sold only to final consumers;
• The products have been sourced from and invoiced by an FSC-certified company in compliance with the FSC chain of custody requirements for invoicing;
• The products are covered by the scope of a chain of custody certificate; and
• The products are not to be transformed/altered, repacked or relabeled.
• Promotion of FSC by the media, educational institutions, associations etc. is allowed as long as FSC trademark use meets the requirements outlined below.

If you would like to use the FSC logo for off-product or promotional purposes contact FSC Canada.  Once your intended use has been approved, FSC Canada will provide the logo graphics that can be used.

Non-certified companies must receive approval for ALL off-product logo usage from FSC Canada (info@fsccanada.org), or their respective national office. FSC Canada must be provided with:

• Why and how you will be using the FSC trademark. 
• Samples/proofs of all promotional uses 
• If promoting an FSC-certified product:
• Invoices, shipping documents etc.
• Letter of approval from FSC-certified supplier authorizing use of certificate number.
• Certification code of supplier.

Graphical Requirements

1. A non-certified company can use the FSC logo to promote an event, illustrate an article, for educational purposes etc. To use the logo in such a way, the following requirements must be met:

• FSC logo: Minimum 10 mm, no text in the exclusion zone, appropriate color and contrast, © is in the right scale and position.
• Promotional Claim: a) “The mark of responsible forestry”, b) “Responsible Forest Management”, or c) alternative claim that meets the general principles of the standard and is approved by Trademark Service Provider. NOTE: The use of the word ‘sustainable’ should be avoided.
• Authorized Code: a) Certification code of supplier, b) Project registration code, or c) FSC ID code provided by FSC Canada
• Copyright Claim: Full claim “© 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C.”, or when there are space restrictions the minimum claim “© 1996 FSC” can be used.
• Website (optional): FSC International (www.fsc.org) or FSC Canada (www.fsccanada.org) website

Examples

2. A non-certified company can use the FSC on-product label in promotional ways to promote products that are FSC-certified.  To use the logo in such a way, the following requirements must be met:

• Non-certified commercial organizations can only promote finished/packaged FSC-certified products if:
• The products are to be sold only to final consumers;
• The products have been sourced from and invoiced by an FSC-certified company in compliance with the FSC chain of custody requirements for invoicing;
• The products are covered by the scope of a chain of custody certificate; and
• The products are not to be transformed/altered, repacked or relabeled.
• The correct FSC on-product label (FSC Mixed Sources, FSC Recycled, FSC 100%) must be used to identify the product, including the suppliers certification code. For on-product requirements click here.
• The FSC label must be clearly linked to a specific product.

Examples

Documents: Standards, Guidelines, Fact Sheets Back to top

Trademark Standards

Guidance and Discussion Notes

Fact Sheets