Step.1

2 Mistakes that 80% of buyers would be made on FSC products

1. Everything that I buy from the suppliers who hold FSC certification is FSC product. (ý)

This is the common mindset that many importers have to be corrected.

There are many customers believed that they had already bought right FSC products. As matter of fact, they are not. They usually searched for a supplier who owns FSC certificate and then buy from them, that's it.

The key point is who claims these FSC products. Take gift paper bag for example, its core component is paperboard. FSC chain of custody starts from forestry station(timbers for legal logging), to pulp mill(wood pulp from legal logging timber), to paper mill(paper making from pulp for legal logging wood), to gift bag producer（purchase specific FSC credit paperboard from paper mill), then send to buyer at abroad. From producing to selling, each one labels with FSC characteristics.

However, not every paper mill with FSC certificate supplies FSC credit paper material, they also offer non-FSC paper. Meanwhile, not every gift bag maker who holds FSC certificate produces FSC credit bags, they also produce regular non-FSC paper bags.

Thus,  if it is genuine FSC products, the sellers should issue the FSC claim on the invoices and packing lists after shipping.                                                                                                                                                                                         

2. We are a wholesaler who doesn’t hold certification, and we wholesale to other small retailers. (ý)

To be honest, this is an irregular practise in principle.If you play a role as a wholesaler, you must own FSC certification.Only retailers don’t need to hold the certification during the transaction.

As according to FSC custody, every circulation should be involved in FSC supply chain, until terminal. You sell to your downstream customer " retailers", but you don't own the certificate, it ends by you, not the end customer.

How To Do With FSC Order Correctly

Firstly, when a buyer puts forward a request to buy FSC gift bags, and seller should calculate the prices based on FSC paper materials. Usually, the price of raw materials with FSC symbols is much higher than regular materials.

Sellers FSC certificate number and FSC claim should be listed on the contract when both sides reach to an agreement. And for which items should be remarked with certificate and FSC type (FSC 100%, FSC Mix Credit, FSC Recycled). Under this circumstance, the manufacturer must purchase specific FSC paper cardboard from paper mill which supplies those paper made of certified wood pulp.

Step.2

During mass production, whether you choose to imprint/put a FSC label on the items or leave it out, it doesn't matter. Nevertheless, from my point of view, it's better to use FSC logo on the items. For one thing, it will get more brand recognition from terminal consumers. For another, these products with FSC labels are supervised easily by local auditor, they can trace back if these items are legally supplied by producers who holds FSC certificates.

Step.3

After shipment, invoices & packing lists must be issued by suppliers with FSC CLAIM. It's very important！！！It's a proof that you can show to local governors which is proved to purchase FSC products genuinely.

Thus, producer's FSC certificate number and FSC claim should be written on the documents in the first place. Descriptions for each item should be remarked with certificate number and FSC type as well.

Step.4

What's more important, Richer Packaging company will help customers to get raw material purchase invoice from the gift bag manufacturer in addition. To ensure each transaction between the buyer and seller is real. As some of unscrupulous vendors will issue false invoices to buyers, this kind of cheating behaviour brings large profits.

So we eyeball if the sellers execute the original contract genuinely by looking into the value added purchase invoice, which paper mill offers to producer. Paper material supplier's certificate, FSC claim & paper net weight must be written on the invoice. After reviewing, we can check if the paper material is right, and how many paper sheets need to be exhausted during mass production. In case that the producer repeatedly use the same invoice to deceive buyer.