SCA wants to withdraw from FSC certification

Europe’s largest forest owner, Swedish forestry company SCA, plans to withdraw from the Swedish branch of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, a decision that has sparked concern among trade unions, environmental groups, Sami organizations, and researchers. The move, announced in a letter from SCA's head of forestry Jonas Mårtensson to FSC Secretary General Subhra Bhattacharjee, is described as temporary. However, SCA says current FSC requirements in Sweden “create serious obstacles” to sustainable forestry and the company’s ability to secure both short- and long-term access to raw materials. “It is not an easy ...