Forest Stewardship Council: the art of sustainable crafting

“And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.” – John Muir.

There’s something magical about a blank sheet of paper. The endless possibilities it holds, quietly waiting for the first cut, fold or brush of colour to bring an idea to life. For card makers and crafters, every sheet is the beginning of a new story. But before that paper reaches your craft table, it has its own story to tell. A story starts in the world’s forests.

If you love working with paper, like we do, you’ll understand what we mean when we say that choosing your materials carefully matters. Whether you’re creating classic clean invites or eclectic junk journals, the choices you make when selecting paper not only have impact on the way your project turns out, but also on the environment.

As we all become more mindful of the impact our everyday choices have on the environment, understanding the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the importance of FSC certification can help you make informed decisions when choosing your paper and card. Choosing responsibly sourced paper is one simple step towards protecting the world's forests for future generations.

What is the Forest Stewardship Council?

You may have noticed the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) logo on paper products before, but what does it actually mean?

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international, non-profit organisation, that helps protect forests by promoting responsible forest management around the world. It was founded in 1994 when concerns grew about deforestation, illegal logging and the loss of important wildlife habitats.

Quite simply, the FSC’s goal is to make sure forests are managed in a way that balances the needs of people, wildlife and the planet. That means protecting biodiversity, supporting local communities and making sure forests can continue to thrive for future generations.

From the forests where the trees are grown to the paper on your crafting table, the FSC works with everyone along the road to make sure materials are responsibly sourced and can be traced throughout the supply chain. This includes:

• Keeping forests as forests– protecting forests from deforestation while safeguarding wildlife and important habitats.
• Fair wages and safe working conditions – making sure forestry workers are treated fairly, paid appropriately and work in safe environments.
• Supporting conservation – encouraging responsible forest management that protects biodiversity for future generations.
• Community rights – respecting the rights of local and Indigenous communities, ensuring they have a voice in how forests are managed.

So, when you choose a paper product, be it an envelope or notepad, marked with the FSC certification, you’re choosing craft supplies that come from responsibly managed forests, run by those that care about what happens to our planet. It’s a small decision that can make a positive difference, helping to support sustainable forestry while still giving you the high-quality paper you expect for your projects.

The meaning behind the FSC logo

For a paper product to carry the FSC logo, it must meet strict standards, through every stage of its cycle. This process is known as chain of custody and provides traceability throughout production.

The FSC certification labels, include

• FSC 100% - made entirely from responsibly managed forests.
• FSC Recycled - produced using recycled materials.
• FSC Mix - contains a mixture of FSC-certified materials, recycled fibres and controlled sources.

These labels give crafters confidence that the money they spend on paper goes to the right people, rather than contributing to forest destruction and wildlife.

You can see exactly which of our products are FSC certified using our guide.

How do we stop deforestation?

When we’re in our crafting bubble, creating beautiful things with gorgeous paper, deforestation isn’t exactly the first thing on your mind. But protecting our forests is a serious topic. Around between 2015 and 2025 around 10.9 million hectares of forest were lost every year globally according to FAO.org  – an area roughly the size of England. While there isn't a single easy fix, the good news is that small changes to everyday habits can make a real difference.

One of the biggest contributions we can make as crafters is checking the labels. Choosing crafting supplies with the FSC certification helps support responsible forest management by encouraging sustainable harvesting practices, protecting biodiversity, and promoting better choices throughout the paper supply chain. FSC certified forests now cover more than 171 million hectares worldwide, showing the growing impact of choosing responsibly sourced materials.

Tips for eco-friendly crafting

If you’re wanting to develop some new eco-friendly crafting habits, the good news is that sustainable crafting doesn’t mean never buying new. Simply making more thoughtful choices can help reduce waste. Whether you’re scrapbooking or card making, here are some simple changes you can introduce to your everyday crafting to create in a greener, more sustainable way

• Buying FSC certified materials from trusted suppliers.
• Using every sheet efficiently to minimise waste.
• Recycling paper offcuts wherever possible – you can even try making your own paper.
• Repurposing scraps for embellishments, die-cutting or scrapbooking.
• Paper swap with fellow crafters.

Craft smarter, waste less and see how a few simple habits can make a lasting difference.

Create beautifully, craft responsibly

Crafting and sustainability go hand in hand. All of us at the Paperbox team get very excited when discovering beautiful paper, but we believe that beauty shouldn’t come at the expense of our planet. That’s why we’re committed to working closely with trusted suppliers and the Forest Stewardship Council offering responsibly sourced, FSC certified products to you at home.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little more about the FSC and our commitment to sustainability. Being an environmentally conscious crafter doesn’t require dramatic changes, just thoughtful ones. By choosing responsibly sourced paper with FSC certification, reducing waste and making the most of every crafting supply, you can continue creating beautiful handmade cards and projects while helping to protect our planet for future generations.