An eco-friendly wood cutting board

Although you have most likely seen the little tree logo or read on a Website a statement such as: “We are proud to say that all our cutting boards are made in the USA from FSC approved hardwood”; you may not be aware of what that little tree and those three letters actually imply.

What exactly does the little tree accompanied by the letters “FSC” signify?

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

The FSC is an international not-for-profit organization that was established in 1993 in response to rising concerns over globalized deforestation. The FSC is present in more than fifty countries worldwide. [1]

To companies, organizations and communities which are interested in practicing and respecting responsible forestry, the FSC offers worldwide recognition, trademark assurance and accreditation services.

Purpose of FSC

The purpose of FSC is to push universal conscientious forestry management.
 

• by setting standards by which companies must abide;
• by engaging in independent certification procedures;
• by labelling all forestry products. [2]

Necessity of the FSC

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, more than half of the world’s forests have, as of now, been modified, degraded, destroyed or altered into other land purposes. Many of the enduring forests are being unlawfully exploited and succumb to poor forestry management.

FSC certified wood

When you purchase wood products such as a wood cutting board that is FSC certified, you can be confident that you are purchasing a cutting board that is manufactured using wood that originated from a forest where FSC defined forestry management principles and criteria have been respected. These regulations envelop everything from legal issues and indigenous rights, to labour rights and environmental impacts of forest management.

The “other” wood

When your wood items do not bear the FSC logo, you are likely encouraging the following irresponsible logging behaviours:
 

• the illegal harvesting of forests;
• the disrespect of civil rights;
• questionable management activities which threaten conservation values;
• the harvesting of natural or semi-natural forests, where conversion occurs;
• the use of genetically modified organisms.[3]

At Wood Cutting Boards, all our large wooden cutting boards are carefully crafted, using only FSC Certified Vermont walnut or maple. Our cutting boards are available in a variety of shapes and sizes from a long and narrow bread board to a pig cutting board to a large cutting board. Visit Cutting Board USA, our beautiful Vermont made wood cutting boards will make a great gift for the eco-conscious chef in your life!


1. http://www.fscus.org/about_us
2. https://ca.fsc.org/en-ca/fsc-certification
3. http://www.fscus.org/standards_criteria