The Forest Stewardship Council has suspended its trademark and licensing agreement with DuChateau after the Sierra Club reported the company had fraudulently labeled material as FSC-certified.
The Forest Stewardship Council has suspended its trademark and licensing agreement with DuChateau after the Sierra Club reported the company had fraudulently labeled material as FSC-certified.
In a statement, DuChateau acknowledged that it had been notified of the incompliance with FSC regulations in the fourth quarter of 2017, but the company disputed claims of fraud.
“At no time did DuChateau knowingly misrepresent FSC products or materials,” according to a statement released by the company. “After we were made aware, we moved immediately to make the appropriate adjustments in our records and inventory to ensure we are not misrepresenting any of our products or materials as FSC-certified.”
The Sierra Club’s report was followed by an investigation by Accreditation Services International (ASI), which concluded DuChateau and one of its Chinese suppliers fraudulently used FSC claims and trademarks on material that had not been certified.
During the suspension, the company can no longer use FSC trademarks on its products. The suspension will last for 12 months, after which time DuChateau can apply for FSC certification again.
“False claims strike at the heart of forest certification: the assurance to the buyer that their purchase of certified forest products truly supports responsible forestry,” Sierra Club Forest Certification Team Chair Caroline Pufalt said in a statement. “With this action, FSC has shown that it has the will and the capacity to combat fraud and preserve the integrity and credibility of certification.”
DuChateau said it will be working with the FSC and its vendors to achieve full compliance and be reinstated when its suspension expires next year.