The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is launching its annual information campaign, traditionally held at the end of September. This year, the campaign will take place from September 21-27 under the slogan “ Small steps together create big change for all.”
One of the main goals of the campaign is to inform consumers about the opportunity to consciously contribute to forest conservation through their everyday small choices when shopping. The FSC label is found on many products in the Bulgarian market, yet relatively few consumers in Bulgaria are aware of what this symbol represents. In fact, FSC gives us greater assurance that the product we are buying comes from a forest and production system certified for responsible management.
In Bulgaria, a significant portion of forests is already FSC-certified, which gives us reason to be less skeptical about the future of Bulgarian forests. Over 400 Bulgarian companies involved in forest product processing and trading have also voluntarily chosen to become FSC-certified, demonstrating a commitment from a significant part of the business sector.
FSC unites and enjoys the trust of both businesses and many organizations in the environmental and social sectors, both globally and in Bulgaria. In 2024, Bulgarian NGOs and companies supporting FSC’s principles and criteria officially formed the Association for Sustainable Forests. Among its founding members is the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB).
Though the Association for Sustainable Forests was officially established in 2024, efforts related to forest certification under FSC standards began much earlier. For over 10 years, there has been a working group of experts in Bulgaria working to adapt FSC standards to local conditions. The efficiency and professionalism of Bulgarian experts give us further cause for pride. One of the good news stories from early September is that Bulgaria now has the first approved updated FSC standard in the world. This means that the principles and criteria used to assess voluntarily certified forest management in Bulgaria meet the most up-to-date requirements of the global FSC international standard for forest management.