Thursday, 31 March 2022
Introducing New FSC Members Walmart and Melissa & Doug
By: Chris McLaren
When a company applies for FSC membership, it signifies not only a desire to engage in our policy and standards development and organizational governance, but also implies a significant internal decision to embrace FSC as a long-term component of their sustainability strategy.
Walmart is one of the world’s largest companies by revenue and is also the world’s largest private employer, with 2.2 million employees. While the company has long sold FSC certified products, Walmart has taken a significant further step by joining the Economic Chamber as an FSC member. As the company wrote in its membership application, “Walmart Inc. has a robust forest policy that endorses FSC,” and “the Walmart Recycling Playbook recommends that all suppliers use FSC certified responsibly sourced fiber in all fiber-based packaging. Additionally, in collaboration with FSC US and FSC Global Development, Walmart is helping to advance the science of how retailers can efficiently and effectively track, verify and label FSC certifed products using new technology.
Toy manufacturer Melissa & Doug has a long track record in sustainability, as well as a 30-year commitment to “open-ended play”. As a privately held toy manufacturer that emphasizes wood and natural materials, the company will join the Economic Chamber. In 2021, the company was the first major toy brand in the US to earn FSC certification for its new stationery line; the company plans to accelerate its commitment to sustainability by ensuring all its paper and top selling wood products are FSC certified in 2022, and is currently exploring other ways to invest in forests with FSC.
We welcome both organizations to the FSC Membership and encourage others to consider doing so as well. As a member-led organization, FSC depends on diverse economic, social and environmental perspectives to keep our system strong. For more information about membership, please visit https://us.fsc.org/en-us/who-we-are/membership.