Business View Oceania - Mar 2024

defined internationally and then adapted locally. To ensure a high bar is set across FSC standards globally, each locally adapted standard is approved centrallywith very careful consideration, deliberation, and planning. We began to develop the national standard in 2013 and published it in 2018. Our forest management standards are reviewed on a five yearly basis, so we are currently in a space of post-publication where we are taking a look at our purpose beyond the creation of those standards, focussing on expanding our reach, and improving our brand.” Alongside the Forest Management Standard certification, FSC ANZ recognises members through the Chain of Custody certification and Promotional License. The Chain of Custody certification, Mr. Paull says, is an international standard that tracks forest products from harvest through to end use, regulating providers and giving consumers peace of mind that their purchase comes from a sustainable source. Promotional License Agreements allow businesses to promote the FSC brand and use the FSC logo for advertisement purposes. Examples of FSCANZ Promotional License holders include Coles, Woolworths, Officeworks, and Bunnings. FSC is a democratic organisation that is governed by its members. Members apply to join one of three chambers that reflect the interests of the members themselves: environmental, social or economic. The membership comprises environmental organisations, labour unions, timber traders, forestry and Indigenous peoples’ organisations, retailers, manufacturers and interested individuals. Voting is weighted to ensure each chamber gets an equal say, which, in turn, guarantees influence is shared equitably between different interest groups and levels of economicpower. This unique governance model ensure decisions in the FSC ANZ system are balanced and supported by stakeholders across the three chambers. Mr. Paull points out that,“The best example of the strength of this system is that FSCANZ, as the only organisation, has managed to build broad consensus across major economic, environmental, social stakeholders around the principles for responsible forest management in Australia.” In a country that has been ravaged by forest wars, this achievement speaks to FSC ANZ’s unique ability to bring stakeholders together and 86 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03