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The 21^st – 27^th September 2024, marks FSC Forest Week 2024 in the UK. This week is focused on engaging with others on the importance of responsible actions within forestry, and raising awareness of climate change, the biodiversity crisis and encouraging sustainability. In particular, we are focusing on our forests and woodlands, and impressing the need to properly manage forests, protect their biodiversity, to in turn help our planet and the communities that rely on forests for their livelihood. How we manage our forests, impacts on our carbon footprint and our sustainability on earth.

The Green Accord, and the South West Procurement Alliance (SWPA) undertook some research into the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) Forest Week 2024, and how we could play our part in raising awareness and increasing our support, for the commitment to and preservation of our national forests. It is evident that these forests, and their sustainability, play a large role in looking after the planet, and are affected by our carbon footprint, and therefore how we use and preserve these natural resources.

How we can individually, make a difference:

1. Shopping
2. FSC-Certified Products
3. Raising Awareness

There are many great ways that we can support the FSC initiatives, and individually there are a few ways we can be mindful, and ensure our actions increase our forest’s sustainability and longevity. Firstly, when shopping, ensure you know where your products and purchases are from, and the origin and materials used in their production. The FSC logo can be found on paper and card products, including paper napkins and other similar products. Additionally, the Rainforest Alliance logo for food and drink in supermarkets, can be seen on items such as chocolate, bananas, and coffee, to name but a few.

Both of these logos highlight the products as being sourced sustainably and responsibly, from the rainforests and/or forests they originate from. This is a good indicator of the positive impact producing a certain item and resourcing it, has had on our forests and rainforests. Considering where the product came from, and if it’s a forest-friendly purchase, allows you to make an informed decision and can help to preserve the planet’s natural resources, including rainforests and forests. Additionally, we can raise awareness and engage with others, to make sure we become more responsible and sustainable in our actions.

Sustainability in Construction:

The FSC also provides great advice on the preferred construction materials, which help our forests, our planet and our environment. One of these materials highlighted is timber.

"According to the FSC, timber is a renewable, recyclable resource that takes 24 times less energy to produce than steel. Steel, and other building materials such as cement, are more carbon-intensive to manufacture as they require extremely high temperatures generated through the burning of fossil fuels. Timber production produces less carbon dioxide, which is one of the contributing factors to global warming.

When timber is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests, there’s no net loss of forest over time. This allows forest ecosystems to continue doing their critical job of absorbing carbon dioxide and regulating the earth’s climate."

Information and research taken from:

 https://fsc.org/en/forestweek.

https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/insights/what-does-rainforest-alliance-certified-mean/

https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/235134/greening-cement-steel-ways-these-industries/