What Does FSC Mix Credit Mean on Tissue Packaging?

FSC Mix Credit on a tissue pack means the paper comes from a supply chain that the Forest Stewardship Council has certified, using a mix of FSC certified forest fibre, recycled fibre and FSC controlled wood, tracked through a credit system. It is a responsible sourcing claim, not a softness or a strength claim.

That is the one sentence answer. The rest of this guide covers what the label does and does not promise, how it differs from other FSC labels, and what it means for a retailer ranging tissue in New Zealand.

Want to see which tissue lines carry the label? Ask our team for the FSC line list and we will send specifications for each product.

What is the FSC?

The Forest Stewardship Council is an international non profit that sets standards for responsible forest management. Forests are audited against those standards, and companies that handle the timber or fibre are audited for chain of custody, which tracks certified material from the forest to the finished product.

The FSC trademark, the tick tree logo, can only appear on a product when every company in that chain holds a valid certificate. You can see the full set of labels on the FSC labels page.

Chain of custody is the part most shoppers never see, and it is the part that gives the label its weight. Each certified company is audited by an independent certification body, and its certificate can be checked in FSC's public database. If any link in the chain loses its certificate, the products it handles lose the right to carry the claim. That is why an FSC label is harder to fake than a general "eco" message printed on a pack.

New Zealand shoppers are more familiar with FSC than many retailers think. A large share of the country's plantation forests is FSC certified, so the logo turns up on timber, packaging and paper across the country, from hardware stores in Christchurch to supermarkets in Wellington.

What are the three FSC labels?

There are three on pack labels, and each one makes a different promise:

• FSC 100%: all the fibre comes from FSC certified forests.
• FSC Recycled: all the fibre comes from reclaimed, recycled material.
• FSC Mix: the fibre is a mix of FSC certified forest material, recycled material and FSC controlled wood.

Tissue makers often use FSC Mix because tissue production blends fibre from several sources to hit the right softness and strength. A mix lets them use certified material at scale while keeping quality consistent.

What does "Credit" add to FSC Mix?

FSC allows two ways to control mixed material through a factory: the percentage system and the credit system.

Under the percentage system, the label shows a number, such as FSC Mix 70%, which is the share of certified and recycled input in that batch or period.

Under the credit system, the factory records how much eligible input it buys. That volume becomes a credit account. It can then sell the same volume of output with the FSC Mix Credit claim. The individual roll in your hand may contain a blend, but across the whole operation, every tonne sold with the claim is matched by a tonne of eligible input bought.

This is why large tissue mills often use the credit method. They process enormous volumes of fibre on continuous machines, and the credit system tracks certified input across that flow without having to separate it roll by roll.

What is FSC controlled wood?

Controlled wood is the part of an FSC Mix product that does not come from an FSC certified forest, but has been checked to keep out the worst sources. FSC excludes wood that is illegally harvested, harvested in violation of traditional and civil rights, from forests where high conservation values are threatened, from forests being converted to plantations or non forest use, and from genetically modified trees.

So even the uncertified share of an FSC Mix product has passed a risk screen. That is the main difference between an FSC Mix pack and a pack with no forest claim at all.

Does FSC Mix Credit make tissue softer or stronger?

No. FSC is about where fibre comes from, not how the finished product performs. Softness comes from ply count, fibre blend, embossing and finishing. Strength comes from fibre and wet strength treatment.

For example, the Hearttex range includes FSC Mix Credit lines at both ends of the spectrum: 4 ply boxed facial tissue at 90 sheets for the premium shelf, and 2 ply boxed facial tissue at 200 sheets for value buyers. The label is the same. The product experience is very different. Judge quality by the specifications, and judge sourcing by the label.

Which Hearttex products carry FSC Mix Credit?

In our current Hearttex range, the label appears on the four boxed facial tissue editions, the 2 ply 200 sheet boxed facial tissue, the PINO fragrance handkerchief, Softtech toilet tissue, the 2 ply toilet paper roll, both FSC kitchen towel lines and the lotion tissue box.

Hearttex is made by Hengan International Group, which also holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 certification across its operations. You can see every line, with the FSC badge marked on each card, on our Hearttex range page.

Do retailers need their own FSC certificate to sell these products?

Generally, no. A store selling finished products that are already labelled, without repacking or relabelling them, does not usually need its own chain of custody certificate. The certificate sits with the manufacturer and the companies that process the product.

What retailers do need to watch is promotion. Using the FSC name or logo in your own advertising, flyers or website, beyond the label on the pack, falls under FSC's trademark rules and may need permission. Check the current rules with FSC before you build a campaign around the logo.

How should a retailer talk about FSC Mix Credit on shelf?

Keep it accurate and simple. Good wording on a shelf talker or a website listing is "FSC Mix Credit certified" or "made with responsibly sourced fibre, FSC Mix Credit". Avoid stretching the claim into "100% sustainable" or "plastic free" unless those are separately true.

Shoppers who care about sourcing tend to read the back of the pack. Shoppers who do not care will still see a familiar logo. In both cases, an accurate claim builds trust.

How does FSC Mix Credit compare with other claims on tissue packs?

Tissue packs often carry several claims at once, and they are not interchangeable. FSC Mix Credit is an audited sourcing claim backed by a chain of custody certificate. Claims such as "eco friendly" or "natural" on their own are general marketing language with no single standard behind them.

Other common marks answer different questions. An ISO 14001 reference tells you the manufacturer runs a certified environmental management system at the factory level, not that a particular pack is certified. A "fragrance free" or "lotion" claim describes the product itself. A sheet count and ply count describe value and feel.

For a retailer, the useful habit is to sort claims into three groups: sourcing (FSC labels), manufacturing (ISO and factory standards) and product (ply, sheets, lotion, fragrance). Each group answers a different shopper question, and only the first one is about the forest.

Is it worth ranging FSC labelled tissue?

For most stores, yes, where it does not cost you range or price position. Certified lines let you answer sourcing questions with a clear, audited label, and they suit commercial buyers such as offices and hospitality groups that have their own procurement policies.

The practical approach is to look at your paper bay line by line and ask your supplier which options carry the label at the same ply and sheet count. If you are reviewing suppliers at the same time, our checklist for choosing a wholesale tissue supplier in NZ covers certification alongside stock, specifications and service.

Frequently asked questions

Is FSC Mix Credit the same as recycled paper?

No. FSC Mix Credit products can contain recycled fibre, but they also contain fibre from FSC certified forests and FSC controlled wood. FSC Recycled is the separate label for fully recycled products.

Why does the label say Credit instead of a percentage?

The manufacturer uses FSC's credit system, which matches the volume of certified and eligible input it buys against the volume of output it sells with the claim.

Does FSC certification cover the plastic wrap on tissue packs?

No. The FSC claim applies to the forest based material, the paper. Plastic packaging is outside its scope.

Which One Nature tissue lines are FSC Mix Credit?

Several Hearttex facial tissue, toilet tissue, kitchen towel, handkerchief and lotion tissue lines. Each one is marked on our Hearttex range page.

See which FSC Mix Credit lines suit your shelf and what they could add to your range. Request the full Hearttex specification list from our team.