American Green

FSC Chain of Custody certification is all about value.
Whether you are looking to open new markets, retain existing customers, or meet upcoming demand, FSC certification creates value. We, at American Green, believe that the reasons behind FSC Chain of Custody certification have changed over the years. Up until 2006, FSC certification was all about doing the right thing, and participating in the green movement. In 2006, companies started seeing FSC as an opportunity to create new markets. “Green” was hitting big, and it was creating business in a time of shrinking growth. Now, in 2009, companies call American Green every day, because their biggest client is requiring FSC, because the new job they are bidding on requires FSC, and because they have been getting inquiry after inquiry about FSC certified material. It just makes sense to have FSC certification as part of your business.
Don’t take our word though; see what other certified companies have to say, at www.whyfsc.org. Or see some of the news coverage in the US, from the FSCUS website. Or, if you are a numbers person, check out these statistics and presentations from FSC International.

American Green is an independent, small business. Our growth relies on the good word of our clients, and that good word relies on the value we create for them. As such, we have exactly one lens through which we review every certification system, “Will this be beneficial for our clients?”
American Green doesn’t believe in charging you for a certification that isn’t going to give you a strong benefit. Rest assured, we are continuously reviewing certifications, and when we think there is something out there that adds significant value for you, we’ll bring it on board.
And this isn’t just for forest certification either – we are open to opportunities for our clients from any arena. Carbon? Biofuel? Air Quality? ISO? The sky’s the limit. So keep bringing those questions, and those recommendations, to us. We look at them all.
Right now, FSC Chain of Custody certification has the market share, and the consumer interest, that few other certifications systems can compare to. So, our focus is on FSC.

FSC is a non profit, international, organization for responsible forest management. As part of that, FSC requires companies, that want to highlight their FSC materials, enact and detail a chain of custody system for their FSC material.
The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a set of standards for the construction of buildings. These standards are collectively called the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) standard. Under the LEED standard, for wood products, only FSC certified wood materials garner credit, or ‘points’.

FSC certification is designed to handle any company structure out there. Single certificates are the most common and can have one or more locations covered under an individual certificate. Single certificates require a site visit by the certification body, to each location covered under the certificate.
Multisite certificates put the onus of annual site visits back onto the certificate holder. This certificate requires the certificate holder to put an annual review process together for each site covered under the certificate. The certification body then visits a sampling of sites, each year, to ensure that internal controls are being met.
Group certificates are similar to multisite certificates, but they are only available to companies that have less than 15 employees, or less than 25 employees and $1 million dollars in yearly revenue. Group certificates can be held by an umbrella organization, with many different companies under that umbrella.
American Green can help you determine which certification is best for you. Simply fill out our application, or contact us.

The best site to find out what Chain of Custody (CoC) is can be found here: http://www.fsc.org/134.html.
More questions? Contact us. We’ll explain it in simple English. American Green specializes in making things understandable and as easy as possible.

The best place to find more information is this page, using our download center and our links. We have links to standards, organizations, and research regarding FSC. Browse around; and, if you still have questions, call us at (802) 659-4490, or email us at info@americangreen.net. You may also look to the FSC website. They have a document search feature and a download center.

You have already made the first step by visiting our website. American Green can provide chain of custody certification services for your North American company. Fill out our application to receive a personalized certification proposal for your company.
If you prefer, give us a call at (802) 659-4490, or email us at info@americangreen.net first.

No. As with anything new, there’s a learning curve. And the FSC does like to be wordy at times. However, we have found that most of what the FSC is looking for in their chain of custody certification standard is just good business sense. It’s just a question of putting your procedures into a format, with the appropriate information, that the FSC is looking for.
American Green specializes in helping companies cut through the confusion and get it all correct, the very first time.

Simple. Fill out our application online, or download it and email, or fax, it back to us. Costs are a function of complexity, size, and scope of operations. We’ll prepare a personalized certification estimate for you, often in the same business day.

The length of the certification process is often determined by our client; in setting internal deadlines and your ability to prepare for and follow-up on the audit. Our systems are set up to provide the fastest turnaround possible. We work diligently to meet your individualized needs.

Yes. The FSC has a very strict confidentiality policy, and shares only information that is clearly outlined in their standards, or what you explicitly grant permission to. American Green, and our partner GFA, have a very similar, strict confidentiality policy as well. Other than what we are required to share with the FSC, your information never leaves the confines of our offices. We store our files electronically, so there is no paperwork to lose. And our electronic files are protected by two layers of Department of Defense standardized encryption protocols. Information is currency. At American Green, we understand and respect that.

In many cases, yes.
The FSC requires site visits for any company that takes physical possession of materials. If you are acting as a brokerage and shipping direct from supplier to customer, we probably can handle the entire certification process over the phone and via email. Call us, or fill out our application, and we will help you decide what will work best for you.

Request and fill out your application. Or, fill it out online.

Receive, and sign off on, personalized certification proposal.

Review and prepare audit materials provided by American Green.

Submit audit materials to American Green. We’ll take the time to have a detailed discussion with you, of your company and your processes, based on those materials.

Schedule and conduct an onsite, or desk, audit. The managing owners of American Green currently conduct all audits. This means the person sitting across the desk from you is directly responsible for your entire certification process.

Receive, review, and approve the draft report from the audit. If necessary, address any identified issues.

. . . Congratulations! You have received your certificate, access to FSC logos, and all with fast, efficient, expert, and state of the art service.

American Green has one sole goal: Use state of the art processes, conducted by expert certification specialists, to provide a fast and efficient certification experience to our clients.
We have a completely mobile office, so that you can reach us when you need to.
Our owners have over 15 years of certification experience, and 25 years of experience in the forest industry.
We value your time. We think in terms of hours and days, not weeks and months.
American Green audit materials are designed to help you move efficiently through the certification process. The easier it is for you to prepare for your audit, the more complete your preparation. The more complete your preparation, the easier, and faster, the audit process. Our personalized service saves you money.

American Green is a small business, run by small businessmen. We understand that you may need certification quickly, and with as little hassle as possible. With that in mind, our goal is to provide you with the fastest, most efficient, state of the art, and expert service of anyone in our field.

We only wish it could be that easy! The FSC, in order to maintain a strong level of credibility and rigor, specifically prohibits certifiers from acting as consultants to a company. This is one of the main reasons that FSC is considered the platinum standard.
Having said that, we recognize that it would not benefit anyone if you were not prepared. So, American Green has created an entire set of documents that will help guide you through the process. We can make sure you understand your options, by explaining them in clear and concise language, in an easily usable format.
Should you want the comfort of a personal consultant, American Green can provide you with names of independent consultants, all of whom we have worked with in the past, that may be able to assist you further.

FSC Chain of Custody Standards

Basic Chain of Custody

Chain of Custody Standard
FSC-STD-40-004v2