What does FSC stand for when it comes to fibres

Short answer: What does FSC stand for? It stands for Forest Stewardship Council, an organisation that certifies forests and follows wood and plant material from the forest to the product. In textiles it matters for fibres such as viscose, lyocell and modal, because they are made from cellulose taken from wood.

What does FSC stand for

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, and the organisation sets rules for how forests should be managed. It also follows the material through production, so that a product can show that the raw material comes from a certified forest.

What wood fibres in textiles are

Wood fibres are fibres made from cellulose taken from wood. The cellulose is dissolved and spun into new threads, which become yarn and later soft, smooth clothes, and depending on the method they are called viscose, modal or lyocell.

How FSC and fibres are connected

When a fibre is made from wood, the producer can show that the wood comes from a certified source, and it does so with the FSC label. The label concerns the source of the raw material, not how the fibre was spun or woven.

The chain from forest to clothing

The wood goes from the forest to a production site where the cellulose is extracted, on to the spinner and finally to the clothing maker. Every link has to be in the scheme for the label to appear on the finished clothes, which is why it is called a chain. Look at bamboo clothing for men.

What the label does not promise

The label says nothing about how soft or hard-wearing the fabric is, and nothing about how the clothes were dyed or sewn. It is information about the source of the raw material, and it has to be seen together with the other details.

Can bamboo and wood be confused

Bamboo is a species of grass and not a tree, but fibres from bamboo and fibres from wood look very similar once they have become viscose. That is why it is important to read the fibre name and see which raw material the certificate applies to before you rely on it.

How to check a label

Look up the licence code under the logo on the FSC website and see who is allowed to use the label. If there is no code, ask the shop what it covers and which product it applies to.

What you can use this knowledge for

When you know the difference between source and fabric, you can read a label more calmly. For everyday wear you can compare socks for men and long sleeve models and choose by softness, fit and care.

Frequently asked questions

What does FSC stand for

FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council, an organisation that certifies forests and follows wood from the forest to the product.

Are wood fibres the same as bamboo fibres

No, bamboo is a species of grass, but both can become viscose, and the fibres resemble each other. The fibre name on the label shows what the fabric is made of.

Does FSC say anything about how the fabric feels

No, the label concerns the source of the raw material, not softness or durability. Feel the fabric yourself and read the care label.

You can find the full range at Copenhagen Bamboo.