Trademark Use for Promotional Licence Holders
Promoting with FSC trademarks highlights your achievements in sourcing products containing forest-derived materials from responsible supply chains and informs consumers and clients that their purchasing choices contribute to taking care of the world’s forests. The FSC trademarks are the primary communication tools for FSC Promotional Licence Holders to demonstrate that they sell or use products that meet the standards set by FSC.
When using the FSC trademarks, Promotional Licence Holders must comply with the FSC Trademark Use Guide for Promotional Licence Holders.
FSC Promotional Licence Holders can use the FSC trademarks for:
- The promotion of FSC-certified and labelled products or services.
- The promotion of the use of FSC certified products in their business operations.
- Making corporate social responsibility claims.
- Making procurement or purchasing claims for finished labelled products.
- Stating a preference for FSC certified products to suppliers.
- Promoting completed FSC certified projects.
- Informing or educating about FSC and/or the FSC system.
- The promotion of training or consultancy on FSC certification and/or the FSC system.
Promotional Licence Holders can use the FSC trademarks for off-product promotional purposes only. This includes social media campaigns, in-store promotional material, on webpages and in catalogues.
Only FSC Chain of Custody Certificate Holders can apply the FSC trademarks on products. Click here for more information about FSC Chain of Custody certification.
Trademark Approvals
FSC grants Promotional Licence Holders access to the FSC Trademark Portal, where the FSC trademarks can be downloaded and FSC promotional panels featuring the licence holder's unique FSC licence code can be generated. Promotional Licence Holders' use of the FSC trademarks for promotional purposes must be authorised by FSC. Promotional Licence Holders must submit all intended uses of FSC trademarks to trademarks@au.fsc.org for approval prior to publication
Supplier Statements: A Verification Resource for Promotional Licence Holders
When Promotional Licence Holders use the FSC trademarks to promote specific products, they must first verify the FSC claims of these products. An important part of this process is to provide FSC ANZ with relevant verification documentation so that we can help you check that everything is in order. Along with providing a copy of the FSC-certified supplier's FSC Chain of Custody Certificate, most commonly, PLHs provide copies of invoices and/or delivery documents that include all the required verification information.
But did you know that you can ask your supplier to complete a 'Supplier Statement' to cover the whole range of FSC-certified products that they provide to you? The use of a supplier statement is particularly effective for promotional licence holders who receive a large number of products from one supplier, as it negates the need to provide individual invoices or delivery documents for each item.
Download the Supplier Statement Template here. Please reach out to trademarks@au.fsc.org if you'd like to know more or have any questions about using this template.
Trademark Use Guide for Promotional Licence Holders
FSC’s Trademark Use Guide for Promotional Licence Holders sets out how to use the FSC trademarks correctly and must be adhered to by all Promotional Licence Holders when using the FSC trademarks. The Guide covers use of the FSC trademarks to promote the sale or use of FSC certified product and for promotion of the company's status as an FSC promotional licence holder.
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