The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), together with a consortium of industry, academic and civil society partners, has launched the FSC EU LIFE FIBRA project, a €6.7 million initiative aimed at strengthening circularity across Europe’s forest-based value chains. Supported by €4 million in funding from the European Union’s LIFE programme, the project seeks to develop innovative approaches that promote the efficient and responsible use of fibre-based materials while building on FSC’s globally recognised certification system.
The initiative comes at a time when demand for renewable, forest-based materials is increasing across sectors such as packaging, construction and furniture as industries work to reduce their dependence on fossil-based resources and meet climate goals. However, FSC notes that relying solely on virgin forest resources is not a sustainable long-term solution, making circular resource management increasingly important.
According to FSC, the project will explore how its certification system can evolve to better support circular economy practices. This includes strengthening recycling solutions, assessing circular business models such as reuse, repair and take-back schemes, examining the potential integration of certified agricultural residues into fibre supply chains, and improving traceability through digital technologies.
“As the way we use materials changes, FSC is evolving with it,” said Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of FSC. “This project will define our role in a future market, from the way materials are sourced to the way they are kept in circulation over time.”
The project builds on FSC’s long-standing commitment to responsible forest stewardship and its FSC Recycled certification, introduced 15 years ago to encourage the use of recycled fibre. Through the EU LIFE FIBRA project, FSC aims to expand these efforts by developing practical tools, guidance and verification methods that support circular material flows while remaining compatible with its existing certification framework.
A key objective of the project is to help businesses navigate evolving European sustainability regulations that increasingly emphasise resource efficiency, circularity and supply chain transparency. By providing practical guidance and scalable solutions, FSC intends to support companies and public procurement bodies in making more responsible material choices.
The project will focus on four strategic areas:
- Developing and piloting circular business models within FSC Chain of Custody certification, including a Circular Economy reporting module.
- Increasing the use of recycled materials through market guidance and public procurement support.
- Exploring the integration of alternative fibre sources, such as certified agricultural residues, into FSC-certified supply chains.
- Advancing cascading fibre use through improved traceability and digital integration.
Commenting on the initiative, Loa Dalgaard Worm, Global Lead of the FSC Circularity Hub, said the funding would significantly accelerate work that has been under development for several years.
“This funding allows us to scale work that we have been laying the groundwork for over the past three years,” Worm said. “It is important to me that we develop solutions that are fit for market demand and deliver real impact on the ground, without reinventing what FSC stands for: ensuring that the true value of forests for nature, the economy and society is recognized.”
The project will be implemented across eight European countries—Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy and France—and brings together expertise from across the forestry, research, sustainability and circular economy sectors.
The consortium includes FSC International, FSC Denmark, FSC Sweden, FSC Finland, FSC Germany, FSC Netherlands, FSC Italy, FSC France, Aarhus University, the University of Southern Denmark, Circle Economy, ECOS, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
By combining certification expertise with research, policy development and industry collaboration, the FSC EU LIFE FIBRA project aims to create scalable solutions that strengthen circularity while supporting responsible forest stewardship and helping businesses adapt to Europe’s evolving sustainability landscape.
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