Open any product box today and you’re likely to see at least one green-sounding label: a tree logo, a recycling symbol, a QR code, or a stamp that says “compostable.” These marks aren’t interchangeable, and slapping the wrong one on your packaging can get you accused of greenwashing even when your intentions are good.
This guide breaks down the four certifications brands run into most often — FSC, SFI, How2Recycle, and BPI — what each one actually verifies, how they differ, and how to figure out which ones apply to your packaging.
Quick Answer
FSC and SFI certify that the wood fiber in paper-based packaging came from responsibly managed forests — FSC is the stricter, globally recognized standard, while SFI is a North American standard with closer ties to the forest industry. How2Recycle tells consumers whether a package is actually recyclable in their area. BPI certifies compostability: its long-standing Commercial Compostability Certification covers breakdown in an industrial composting facility, and since late 2025 BPI also offers an additional Commercial & Home Compostability tier for products that also break down in a properly managed backyard compost bin. They aren’t competitors — a single box could carry an FSC label, a How2Recycle label, and (if it’s a compostable mailer) a BPI mark all at once.
FSC and SFI: certifying the paper and wood fiber
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an international certification confirming that the wood or paper fiber in a package was harvested from forests managed under FSC’s environmental and social standards, which include protecting water quality, restricting harvest of old-growth and high-conservation-value forests, and respecting the rights of indigenous communities. On packaging you’ll see one of three FSC label types: FSC 100% (all fiber from FSC-certified forests), FSC Mix (a blend of certified fiber, recycled content, and verified “controlled wood”), or FSC Recycled (made entirely from reclaimed fiber). FSC Mix is by far the most common label on everyday corrugated shipping boxes. Every legitimate FSC label includes a license code in the format “FSC C######,” which you can look up on FSC’s website to confirm it’s real.
SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) covers similar ground but is a North American-focused standard originally created by the forest products industry. Its forest management requirements are generally less prescriptive than FSC’s, and it’s operated with closer industry involvement rather than as a fully independent third party. That doesn’t make SFI meaningless — it’s a legitimate, audited standard many US and Canadian paper suppliers hold — but if your brand sells internationally or wants the certification with the broadest consumer recognition and the most rigorous chain-of-custody rules, FSC is generally the stronger claim.
Practical takeaway: ask your paper or corrugated supplier for their FSC or SFI chain-of-custody certificate number before you print either logo on a box. You need your own license or a documented pass-through agreement with your supplier — you can’t just add the logo because the cardboard “looks recycled.”
How2Recycle and BPI: telling people what to do with the package
How2Recycle, run by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, doesn’t certify the material itself — it certifies the on-package instructions. Brands submit detailed data about every component of a package (box, liner, tape, label) and How2Recycle assigns each piece a category: Widely Recyclable, Check Locally, Store Drop-off (mainly for films and flexible plastics that go back to store bins, not curbside), or Not Yet Recyclable. The label is based on real access-to-recycling data, applicable law, and whether reprocessors will actually buy the material back — not just whether the material is technically recyclable somewhere. Newer label designs are moving away from the classic “chasing arrows” symbol toward more specific instructions and QR codes, partly in response to state truth-in-labeling laws such as California’s SB 343.
BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certifies compostability, which is a completely different claim from recyclability. A BPI-certified product has been tested against ASTM D6400 (for plastics) or D6868/D8410 (for fiber-based items) and shown to break down safely in a commercial composting facility — that’s BPI’s core Commercial Compostability Certification. For years this was the only tier, and the detail brands most often got wrong was assuming it covered backyard composting when it didn’t. That’s changed: BPI now also runs a Commercial & Home Compostability Certification, launched in late 2025 and based on the French NF T 51-800 standard, for products that additionally prove they break down in a properly managed home compost bin. A product must already hold BPI’s commercial certification before it can qualify for the home tier, so the two labels aren’t interchangeable — check which specific certificate your supplier holds rather than assuming “BPI-certified” automatically means backyard-safe. Before printing any compostable claim, also confirm your local municipality or a nearby commercial facility actually accepts BPI-certified packaging, since access varies a lot by region.
Tips and Common Mistakes
Don’t mix claims on one component. A compostable mailer should carry a BPI mark, not a How2Recycle recyclable label — composting and recycling are different end-of-life paths, and instructing customers to do both confuses them and can violate labeling rules in some states.
Check which BPI tier your product actually has. Commercial-only certification means it needs an industrial composting facility; only the newer Commercial & Home Compostability Certification supports backyard bins. Printing a generic “compostable” claim without specifying which applies is a common source of confusion.
Get your own license number. FSC, SFI, and How2Recycle all require the brand or converter to hold (or be covered under) a valid chain-of-custody or membership license — you can’t copy a competitor’s logo onto your packaging.
Label every component separately for How2Recycle. A box, a poly mailer, and a tissue liner may each get a different designation; a single blanket “recyclable” claim across a multi-material package is the kind of thing that draws greenwashing complaints.
Check state law before printing anything. States like California (SB 343) and others now restrict recyclability and compostability claims to packaging that meets specific, verifiable standards — an unsupported “recyclable” or “compostable” claim can carry real legal risk regardless of intent.
Re-verify annually. Certifications lapse or get audited; confirm your supplier’s FSC/SFI license and your How2Recycle or BPI status are current before each print run, especially for long-shelf-life packaging.
Explore more: More sustainable packaging guides.
Sustainable packaging certifications FAQs
Can a package have both an FSC label and a How2Recycle label?
Yes. FSC/SFI certify where the fiber came from; How2Recycle certifies whether the finished package is recyclable and how. They answer different questions and commonly appear together on the same corrugated box.
Is SFI as trustworthy as FSC?
SFI is a legitimate, audited certification, but it’s generally seen as a somewhat less rigorous, North America-focused standard with closer forest-industry involvement than FSC’s independent international system. For global brand credibility, FSC carries more weight.
Can BPI-certified packaging go in a backyard compost bin?
Only if it specifically holds BPI’s Commercial & Home Compostability Certification, a tier BPI launched in late 2025. BPI’s original and more common certification, Commercial Compostability, only confirms breakdown in an industrial composting facility — it does not guarantee the item will fully break down in a backyard pile. Either way, BPI-certified items belong in a compost stream, not a curbside recycling bin, since compostable plastics can contaminate recycling.
Do I need to pay to use these certification logos?
Generally yes — FSC, SFI, and How2Recycle require paid membership or licensing and, for FSC/SFI, a chain-of-custody audit of your supply chain. BPI certification is tied to testing a specific product formulation against ASTM (or, for the home tier, French NF T 51-800) standards, which also involves a fee.
Source Smarter With Packaura Direct
Find packaging suppliers, surplus inventory, and certification — all on Packaura Direct. Try Packaura Direct.
Photo by Packhelp on Unsplash.