FSC certification is a verification system from the Forest Stewardship Council, an international nonprofit founded in 1994. It confirms that paper and wood-based products come from responsibly managed forests through independently audited supply chains. For printers, FSC Chain of Custody certification tracks materials from forest to finished product.
In This Article
What is FSC?
Most people have seen the FSC logo on something. It shows up on paper bags at the grocery store, on the back of a brochure, on packaging from brands that care about where their materials come from. But most people have no idea what it actually means or why it matters to them.
Here is the short version: FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council. It is an international nonprofit that has been setting standards for responsible forest management since 1994. When you see that logo, it means someone along the supply chain took verifiable steps to make sure the paper or wood in that product did not come from illegally logged, environmentally destructive, or improperly managed forests.
The longer version is worth understanding, especially if your organization produces printed materials on a regular basis.
How FSC Certification Actually Works
There are two parts to FSC certification. The first is Forest Management certification, which applies to the forests themselves. The second is Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, and this is the one that matters when you’re talking about professional and commercial printers.
Chain of Custody certification tracks materials through every step of the supply chain: from the forest, to the mill, to the printer, to you. For a printer to carry FSC certification and pass it on to your finished materials, they have to prove through annual audits that certified materials are handled separately and can be traced back to responsible sources. They can’t just say they use good paper. They have to prove it in writing and be able to back up that proof.
That distinction is so important. A lot of printers claim to be ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘sustainable.’ FSC certification is one of the very few claims in the printing industry that comes with independent verification. An accredited auditor shows up, reviews records, the company’s processes, and either confirms compliance or flags the problems. You can’t pass yourself or fake this type of certification.
Why FSC Certification Matters for Businesses or Organizations
If you run a business that produces printed materials, you’re probably already thinking carefully about where your money goes. You care about choosing vendors and suppliers who share the same values and you care about being able to stand behind everything you put your name on.
When your donor newsletter, your member mailing, your event program, or your campaign mailer comes off an FSC-certified press, it carries trust and weight. Your donors and members notice that you’re not only encouraging eco-friendly and sustainable printing practices, but that you’re also becoming a leader in your field to stand up for the environment. In some cases, your board or even certain organizations or government entities may actually require it. Many organizations in healthcare, education, and government have now mandated FSC-certified materials for anything produced through a vendor. Working with a certified printer covers you on all of it. Not only does this mean it’s good for your business, but it’s also great for the environment.
And here is something a lot of clients do not realize: FSC Chain of Custody certification covers the entire production process, not just the paper! That means your direct mail campaign, your event signage, your program booklets and brochures, and your branded products can all carry FSC claims when produced by a certified shop. Even fulfillment and distribution handled in-house falls under that umbrella.
For governmental organizations required by federal or state sustainable purchasing guidelines, or those pursuing LEED certification for their building and designs, using an FSC-certified printer can contribute directly to those compliance goals and boost points for LEED. It’s a win win for you and your trusted commercial printer.
What Bacchus Press Brings to the Table
We have been printing for Bay Area organizations since 1975. We have built a reputation among nonprofits, unions, medical industries, political campaigns, museums, and businesses that keep coming back, year after year. We have been incredibly honored to work with amazing clients and organizations like the Coral Reef Alliance, SFMOMA, the de Young Museum, Alameda Health System, and Save the Bay.
We hold active FSC Chain of Custody certification under License Code FSC-C125400 (Certificate Code SCS-COC-007184-R8). That certification covers every service we offer, all produced in-house at our facility in Emeryville, California. Annual, third-party audits have confirmed continued compliance with zero nonconformities on record. You can actually verify our certification directly on the FSC Certificate Database and read more about our full sustainability commitment on our certifications page.
FSC is not the only certification we carry. We are also certified by the California Green Business Network, which requires compliance with nine state and local environmental agencies covering resource conservation, pollution prevention, and waste reduction. We are also a Canopy Planet partner, reinforcing our commitment to ethical sourcing from sustainably managed forests. We use vegetable-based and soy-based inks, FSC-certified and recycled papers with high levels of post-consumer waste content, and non-toxic water-based inks on our large-format printers.
We are also a union shop, supporting local jobs and fair labor standards the same way we have since the beginning.
FSC Certification Across Every Service Bacchus Offers
FSC certification runs through everything we do, not just in writing.
Printing
Our commercial printing services cover offset and digital printing for brochures, booklets, catalogs, postcards, newsletters, business cards, calendars, posters, presentation folders, notepads, greeting cards, corporate identity materials… you get the idea. All of it produced on FSC-certified paper with soy and vegetable-based inks.
Bindery
Our bindery services handle folding, stitching, perfect binding, trimming, and finishing so your printed materials arrive polished and presentation-ready. No shipping to a second vendor, no added transportation, and no break in the supply chain.
Our targeted mailing services include variable-data printing, targeted direct mail, and USPS processing handled entirely in-house. Your mailer goes straight from our press to the post office, cutting out a separate mail house and reducing your project’s carbon footprint in the process.
Fulfillment
Our fulfillment services cover warehousing, inventory control, kitting, packaging, and shipping for organizations that need ongoing print management rather than a one-time run.
Large Format Signage
Our large-format signage uses non-toxic water-based inks and eco-conscious materials for banners, displays, and event signage that make an impression without the environmental cost of conventional large-format production.
Every one of these services. Under one roof. Under FSC certification.
The Reality of Choosing a Certified Printer
Working with an FSC-certified printer does not require a financial premium. FSC-certified paper is now widely available across US markets and comparably priced to non-certified paper in a lot of cases. The certification is not an additional fee we pass on to you. What it does is open doors that other commercial printers cannot.
For organizations doing sustainability reporting, donor-facing communications, or procurement documentation, being able to point to a certified vendor matters. It is a concrete, verifiable data point in a world where too many sustainability claims are vague and impossible to back up.
Nonprofits in particular benefit from working with us becuase we offer discounted rates for nonprofits and understand the budget realities that come with mission driven work. We have been doing it long enough to know what a nonprofit needs from a printer and we have the certifications to back up every environmental claim on the materials we produce.
Unions also get a printer that is genuinely one of them. We are a union shop with a long track record of producing member communications, political mail, and FPPC compliant campaign materials for labor organizations across the Bay Area.
If you are a Bay Area nonprofit, union, business, or campaign looking for a printer that can back up its sustainability commitments with real certification and decades of proven work, we are worth a conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions About FSC Certification and Bacchus Press
What does FSC certified mean for a printer?
It means the printer has been independently audited and verified to handle paper and wood-based materials traceable to responsibly managed forests. The certification is issued and annually reviewed by an accredited third party. We hold active FSC Chain of Custody certification (FSC-C125400), which covers all of our production services. Learn more on our certifications page.
Can I put the FSC logo on my printed materials?
Only if your printer holds valid FSC Chain of Custody certification. You cannot apply FSC claims to materials produced by an uncertified printer regardless of what paper was used. Working with us makes your materials eligible to carry FSC labeling across printing, mailing, signage, and more. The FSC outlines label use requirements on their website.
Does FSC certification apply to more than just printing?
Yes. Our FSC certification covers our full range of services including offset and digital printing, direct mail, large-format signage, bindery, and fulfillment. You do not need a separate vendor to maintain FSC compliance across your project.
Is FSC certified printing more expensive?
No. FSC certification does not add cost to your project. It is a credential we carry, not a surcharge passed on to you. Contact us for a quote on your next project.
Why does FSC certification matter to nonprofits and healthcare organizations?
Many nonprofits and healthcare organizations have sustainability commitments, donor expectations, or board-level procurement policies that require certified materials. FSC certification gives you a documented, independently verified answer when those questions come up. It also signals to donors, members, and partners that your organization walks the talk on environmental responsibility.
What other certifications does Bacchus Press hold?
In addition to FSC, we are certified by the California Green Business Network and are a Canopy Planet partner. See the full picture on our certifications page. We use soy and vegetable-based inks, post-consumer recycled and FSC-certified papers, non-toxic water-based inks for large-format printing, and operate a union shop with in-house print and mail services.
How long has Bacchus Press been FSC certified?
We have held FSC certification since 2015 and have passed every annual surveillance audit since. Our most recent audit in August 2025 found zero nonconformities. Our certification can be verified directly in the FSC public certificate database.
Need a Certified Printer for Your Next Project?
We have been producing FSC-certified printing, mailing, signage, bindery, and fulfillment work for Bay Area organizations since 1975. Everything is handled in-house at our Emeryville facility. Get in touch to discuss your project.
