As demand for responsibly sourced fibre continues to climb in packaging, FSC certification is playing an increasingly critical role in assuring brands and consumers that materials come from responsibly managed forests.
FSC Forest Week 2025, running from 20–26 September, will shine a spotlight on the importance of sustainable forestry and the collective action needed to protect this vital resource.
Healthy forests underpin life on Earth, but they face escalating threats from climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable land use. FSC Forest Week, under the theme “Do One Thing for Forests”, invites retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, forest managers and consumers across Australia and New Zealand to take small, practical steps that add up to big change. For businesses, this means sourcing and stocking FSC-certified fibre; for consumers, it’s choosing products that carry the FSC label; and for forest managers, it’s sustaining their commitment to rigorous standards.
Melanie Robertson, CEO of FSC Australia and New Zealand, said the week is about turning awareness into meaningful action. “From forest managers caring for FSC-certified forests, to businesses sourcing and stocking responsibly, to consumers choosing certified products, every action makes a difference. Together, our community of certificate holders, members, licence holders and conscious consumers is driving responsible forestry to ensure forests thrive for generations to come.”
For the packaging sector, FSC certification is particularly relevant as fibre-based solutions are in high demand as alternatives to plastics. FSC-labelled packaging reassures brand owners and end consumers that fibre comes from forests managed with respect for biodiversity, communities and long-term forest health.
Support for the campaign is growing. In 2024, major retailers and NGOs including Big W, Coles Group, ALDI, Officeworks, Hallmark, Mitre 10 New Zealand, Visy and WWF Australia backed the initiative. In 2025, broader participation is expected as organisations increasingly recognise FSC certification as essential to building credible, sustainable supply chains.
Across Australia and New Zealand, more than 2.4 million hectares of forest are FSC-certified, forming part of a global network of over 160 million hectares managed to FSC standards. Globally, 60 per cent of the world’s top 30 retailers hold FSC promotional licences. Locally, companies including Bunnings, Woolworths Group, ALDI Australia, The Warehouse and Coles Group are part of FSC ANZ’s promotional licence holder program.
FSC ANZ is encouraging all stakeholders to get involved in Forest Week by looking for the FSC label when they shop and spreading the message online with #FSCForestWeek. Every choice counts – and for packaging, the assurance of FSC certification is helping secure a future where forests, people and packaging can coexist sustainably.
