Healthy forests are essential for life on Earth, yet they face increasing pressure from climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable land use. From 20-26 September, retailers, NGOs, forest managers, manufacturers and consumers across Australia and New Zealand will come together for FSC Forest Week to highlight solutions and inspire action.

This year’s theme, ‘Do One Thing for Forests,’ calls on everyone to take steps that add up to meaningful change.

“For consumers, that might mean choosing FSC-certified products or spreading the word. For businesses, it’s sourcing and stocking responsibly. And for forest managers, it’s their ongoing commitment to maintaining forests to FSC’s rigorous standards. Together, these actions protect forests and the people and wildlife that depend on them,” according to FSC Australia and New Zealand.

Support for FSC Forest Week continues to build. In 2024, the campaign was backed by major retailers and NGOs, including BIG W, Hallmark, Officeworks, Coles Group, ALDI, Mitre 10 New Zealand, Visy and WWF Australia. In 2025, even broader participation is expected, as organisations recognise the role FSC certification plays in meeting consumer demand for credible and sustainable supply chains.

FSC Australia and New Zealand CEO Melanie Robertson said, “FSC Forest Week is about turning awareness into action. From forest managers caring for FSC-certified forests, to businesses sourcing and stocking responsibly, to consumers choosing certified products, every action makes a difference. Together, our community of certificate holders, members, licence holders and conscious consumers is driving responsible forestry to ensure forests thrive for generations to come.”

FSC ANZ is encouraging everyone to get involved during FSC Forest Week by looking for the FSC label when they shop and sharing the message online with the hashtag #FSCForestWeek.

“Every choice counts, and together, we can do one thing for forests.”

BioPak rallies support for FSC™ Forest Week

BioPak, global leaders in sustainable packaging solutions, is calling on the packaging and foodservice industry to take action and support the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) in its mission to protect the world’s forests.

The call to action comes ahead of global awareness campaign FSC Forest Week with the B Corp urging the wider industry to prioritise responsibly sourced FSC-certified products. 

“The Earth loses 18.7 million acres of forests per year, which is equal to 27 soccer fields every minute,” said BioPak CEO Gary Smith.

“Continuing at this rate could have devastating environmental and social impacts. The FSC label is more than just a symbol; it ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests, reclaimed, or controlled sources.

“This means no illegal harvesting, no destruction of critical ecosystems, and no human rights violations. By choosing FSC-certified packaging, businesses and consumers can directly contribute to forest preservation.”

“There are ten principles that a forest must adhere to in order to gain the FSC™ certification and use of the FSC™ logo,” said BioPak Head of Sustainability Lea Maguero. 

“An FSC™ certification deems products as responsible, providing environmental, social, and economic benefits based on both the lifecycle of the product and how it came to be. We are really proud to work with the FSC to champion responsible sourcing and protect the world’s forests for future generations.”

Thanks to the FSC™ processes, standards and regulations, illegal forestry has declined, and communities and landowners are enjoying numerous social and economic benefits, with the FSC commenting on their commitment to advocacy and change. 

“For more than a decade, BioPak has demonstrated its commitment to responsible forestry through FSC® Chain of Custody certification,” said FSC Australia and New Zealand CEO Melanie Robertson.

“By championing FSC-certified products this FSC Forest Week and beyond, they are helping to safeguard forests, biodiversity and communities, while calling on the wider industry to take responsibility and ensure credibility across supply chains.”

BioPak is committed to zero waste, sustainable foodservice packaging. The company’s packaging solutions are made from rapidly renewable, sustainably sourced materials, including FSC™ certified paper and birchwood.

For more information on BioPak’s range of FSC products, visit biopak.com/au/resources/fsc-certification.

(FSC™ C110879, BioPak’s FSC licence number).