How do you know if paper comes from forests that are sustainably managed

The non-profit Forest Stewardship Council has established an international certification program, based on standards developed from the input of many interested parties such as forest managers and owners, consumers, environmental groups, scientists, indigenous peoples, and union representatives. The certification process not only looks at the forests themselves, but tracks each step in the supply path from the forest through pulp and paper manufacturing to distribution and sales. In this way, it is possible to be reasonably certain that a given product contains fiber that comes only from sustainably managed forests and hasn’t displaced indigenous peoples or destroyed their livelihoods. FSC paper carries their logo on its packaging.

It is also important to look for other logos and information which assure that a product is environmentally preferable. They include the Green Seal, the Green-E, an indicator of post-consumer recycled content, and an indicator that the paper is processed chlorine free (PCF) for 100% recycled and totally chlorine free (TCF) for virgin fiber.