Forest Products Solutions

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Management certification is a voluntary certification system available to forestry organizations who want to demonstrate responsible forest management by having their forest management planning and practices independently evaluated against FSC’s forest management standards. If you are looking for FSC ® group certification, there are a number of websites offering help through the process. Contact one or several third party Certification Bodies who will provide an estimate regarding cost and timeline, They will provide you with information about the requirements for FSC certification.

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This was the Forest Products Solutions website.
The content below is from the site's 2007-2010 archived pages.

It's major bragging rights to be certified by the FSC as my uncle's furniture business is. He worked with the Rainforest Alliance to become FSC® Chain of Custody Certified for some of their furniture lines. His company has been recognized with the coveted Sustainable by Design registration, awarded by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) for the company's achievements on a path of environmental stewardship. Yet one day doing a search in Google for the company name he found some disturbing search results. There was a bogus story about how his certifications were obtained fraudulently and about how the corporation was under financial distress due to the huge number of lawsuits they had to contend with. All phony baloney. It drove my uncle crazy to see this on page one of Google. He wrote to the publisher, who didn't respond - same for Google. He spoke with every reputation management firm he could contact, all told him they could remove the negative search results for a fee, but they seemed shady somehow. I did some searching and eventually discovered a service that specialized in the removal of problem search results - this was the only service they offered. They were expensive, but not quite as bad as the reputation firms. He was just about to use these guys when the results completely disappeared - we think Google may have seen the problem they were creating. But it makes you realize how much damage Google can do inadvertently and how there is no remedy. Well at least the business is back on track.

Forest Products Solutions || 2006 NE 16th Avenue, #5 Portland, OR 97212

Forest Products Solutions provides companies with the services and tools to improve the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of FSC-certified and related green building products.

With over five years of experience in marketing and communications of certified green products, Terry Campbell of Forest Products Solutions can help you kick-off new programs and revive a already existing programs. Recognized by many in the “green” building industry as a professional who knows the certified wood market. Terry has been requested to present the state of the FSC market to the City of Portland, City of Seattle, USBGC Chapters, and dozens of architect and general contractor firms in North America.

Most recently (2007) Forest Products Solutions' has been working with:

Commercial and residential green building projects
Non-governmental organizations focused on developing markets for certified products
Municipalities and local governments
FSC certified product manufacturers and suppliers

Being in this unique position between the manufacturers/supplier and those who purchase products, Terry has a keen understanding of what buyers would like and what sellers can provide. This market knowledge is key in trying to figure out how, when, who, why, and where to market environmental, sustainable, or green building products.

As the green building industry continues to grow, working with Forest Products Solutions will ensure our company and products are ahead of your competitors.

Forest Products Solutions' mission is to provide its clients within the forest products industry with tools and services to ensure they are competitive in the growing green building and green products industries.

We work to connect and communicate the economic, social and environmental values of green products to manufacturers and distributors; thereby facilitating the market uptake of these products in the green building industry.

To make this happen, Forest Products Solutions works with forest products manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to ensure that they earn certification, knowledgeably train and support their personnel, and use effective marketing techniques.

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Services

Green Marketing

Clearly communicating the benefits of your green and FSC products is crucial to successful marketing. The green manufacturing industry is new and rapidly evolving therefore developers, architects, designers, and builders need to be educated on the benefits of new product innovations and their relevance to our environment, our economy, our society and their green building projects.

Terry's experience includes providing education and market development strategies to FSC companies interested in increasing their sales. He will assist you with the development of content for your marketing collateral (web/paper/trade shows), conduct market research and optimize search engine results for your website so prospective clients can easily find you.

Many of the paper products derived from the forest are good examples of green, recyclable items since paper can easily be reused. Terry tries to focus also on green cleaning products and eco-friendly janitorial supplies that are used in his business. His message to the business community encourages everyone to pay attention to the type of products used by staff and contractors. By stocking up on green cleaning supplies, employees will get the message and may carry the eco-awareness home with them. One of his sources is CleanItSupply.com, which has been a leader in marketing sustainable janitorial supplies across the US market via the internet. For example, detergents like dish soap and laundry products that do not pollute because they are designed to be biodegradable when flushed into waste water systems. When used with recyclable forest products green janitorial supplies enable your enterprise to help our environment and demonstrate to your competition your commitment to a sustainable future. While all cleaning products are not yet eco-friendly, the world is moving toward a responsibility that we all should be paying attention to.

Training & Support

Companies that are serious about selling to the green building market know that their employees are integral in bringing their products to the consumer. However, the green building world is growing and technology and industry terms are constantly evolving. Therefore, employees need to be up to date on new information regarding green technology, green products, LEED, green building programs and green terminology.

Terry Campbell, of Forest Products Solutions, has over eleven years' experience linking FSC certified and green building products to markets and has a comprehensive understanding of current and future green industry trends. In addition, Terry is well connected and respected within the green building industry and considered by many green developers, architects, interior designers, builders and green building consultants to be the leading expert on FSC.

By working with Forest Products Solutions, Terry will provide your company with trainings, customer support and green building policy/standard interpretation

Certification Expertise

CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY (COC) AND CONTROLLED WOOD (CW) CERTIFICATION EXPERTISE

Terry has completed over 500 FSC Chain-of-Custody (COC) evaluations and annual audits for Smartwood and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). Recently he earned his lead auditor certificate for successful completion of the ISO 19011 training. This only further established him as an expert of the FSC standards and requirements for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. His experience covers building materials, furniture, and paper sectors of the forest products industry, as well as smaller niche sectors.

Whether it is a single site, multi-site, or company-wide program, Terry can provide your business with all the necessary information to become an FSC certificate holder. Forest Products Solutions is here to assist your business in an easy transition to the manufacturing or sale of FSC-certified products.

Forest Products Solutions can provide your company with:

Chain-of-Custody (COC) Certification

Written procedures for the FSC COC documented control system
FSC Product Group Schedules
Multi-site central office procedures
Preparation for an FSC COC audit

Controlled Wood (CW) Verification

Controlled wood risk assessment reports
Controlled wood written procedures

Minor Component compliance

Forest Products Solutions can essentially do all the preparation for your company to get FSC COC or CW certified.

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Testimonials

"When I first met Terry Campbell at Greenbuild 2007 in Chicago I knew he was a mover and shaker in the FSC world. Little did I know that he would also become an integral part of Dixie's foray into that world! Terry, through his company Forest Products Solutions, has effectively defined our Green Mission Statement and put us in a market-leading position when it comes to all things green.

Specifically, Terry's expertise helped us out in the following ways:

Defined products we distribute that qualify as "green"
Developed and implemented a customized FSC training program
Worked with our web hosting company to develop a "green" page on our website
Assisted in creating a "green" brochure that is used by our sales team to help answer "green" questions
Functioned as our expert consultant for pretty much anything surrounding the confusing world of green building products and practices

Terry's expertise and performance has been invaluable to Dixie and he continues to work with us at Dixie Plywood as we strive to be a valuable resource for our customers."

Tom Heard
Director of Marketing and Business Development, Dixie Plywood

"Working with Terry of Forest Products Solutions has been a comfortable and rewarding experience. Terry knows the intricacies of both green building and the FSC. He bridges these worlds, locates solutions, and performs. We look forward to working with him again and recommend Forest Products Solutions to everyone involved in green building." - Mike Peery, President, Peery Bros Lumber

"The FSC House project was managed very well. Clear goals, targets, responsibilities and dates were set and met. When circumstances threw curve-balls, Terry Campbell adapted quickly and communicated well. I was pleased and impressed and will recommend further participation in the future." - Alice Palmer Marketing Manager of Tembec.

Founding and Location

Headquartered at 2006 NE 16th Avenue, Suite 5, in Portland, Oregon, Forest Products Solutions operated in the heart of one of the most environmentally forward cities in the United States. Portland’s longstanding commitment to sustainable development, LEED-certified architecture, and urban environmental planning made it a natural base for a consultancy specializing in FSC certification and green building advocacy.

Founded by Terry Campbell, Forest Products Solutions combined years of experience in green product marketing, chain-of-custody auditing, and sustainability communication. Campbell’s professional history included work with several respected certification bodies such as SmartWood and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). His first-hand experience conducting over 500 FSC chain-of-custody evaluations gave him deep insight into both the technical standards and the market realities facing manufacturers seeking certification.

The FSC Connection

At the core of Forest Products Solutions’ mission was helping clients understand and achieve compliance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)—a globally recognized certification system that ensures forest products are responsibly sourced. The FSC’s Chain-of-Custody (COC) and Controlled Wood (CW) programs track materials from certified forests through the manufacturing and distribution process, maintaining the integrity of the certification.

Forest Products Solutions specialized in assisting companies through each step of this process. Its services included drafting FSC control system procedures, conducting risk assessments for controlled wood, preparing documentation for audits, and developing minor component compliance programs. Campbell’s certification training under ISO 19011 further reinforced his credibility as one of the leading FSC auditors and advisors in the region.

Beyond technical compliance, the company’s value lay in helping businesses translate sustainability into competitive advantage. Clients not only achieved certification but also learned how to communicate their environmental stewardship credibly and effectively to the market.

Services and Capabilities

Forest Products Solutions was organized around three main service categories—each designed to support a different stage of a company’s journey toward sustainability.

Green Marketing and Communication

Recognizing that “green” claims were only as effective as their credibility, Forest Products Solutions provided marketing and communication strategies that emphasized both environmental impact and economic opportunity. The company helped businesses create persuasive collateral for websites, trade shows, and sales teams, and assisted in optimizing online visibility for green product lines.

At a time when sustainable branding was often vague or inconsistent, Forest Products Solutions helped its clients build strong, factual messaging rooted in real environmental performance. It also conducted market research to identify where demand for certified products was rising—such as municipal building projects, university campuses, and eco-conscious residential developments.

One recurring theme in Campbell’s guidance was the idea that sustainability education needed to be internal as well as external. Employees and contractors had to understand the meaning of FSC labels, life-cycle implications, and compliance obligations. The company therefore emphasized not only how to “sell” green products but also how to embody their principles.

Training and Support

Education was one of the consultancy’s most significant contributions. The firm provided workshops, seminars, and on-site training for clients ranging from lumber distributors to local governments. These sessions helped staff understand evolving sustainability terminology, LEED requirements, and the intersection between environmental certification and building performance standards.

Campbell’s eleven years of experience made him a sought-after trainer for industry groups and municipal agencies. He frequently presented to the City of Portland, the City of Seattle, and U.S. Green Building Council chapters across the country. His ability to translate complex FSC standards into practical language allowed organizations to align internal practices with certification objectives and green building codes.

The training services also prepared employees for certification audits, customer engagement, and policy interpretation—ensuring that clients could sustain compliance and credibility beyond the initial certification stage.

Certification Preparation and Audit Readiness

Forest Products Solutions was deeply involved in helping companies prepare for FSC Chain-of-Custody (COC) and Controlled Wood (CW) certifications. These complex processes required extensive documentation, internal control systems, and risk assessments.

The consultancy offered customized audit preparation packages that included written FSC procedures, multi-site coordination plans, and internal audit templates. Many clients credited Campbell with simplifying what would otherwise have been an overwhelming process. His expertise extended across multiple sectors—building materials, furniture manufacturing, and paper products—each requiring different interpretations of FSC standards.

For companies seeking minor component compliance (for example, adhesives or small metal parts in furniture), Forest Products Solutions provided tailored guidance that ensured even small details adhered to FSC’s rigorous requirements.

Partnerships and Clients

By 2007, Forest Products Solutions had already built a diverse client base across commercial and residential construction, non-governmental organizations, and local governments. It worked with municipalities interested in integrating green procurement policies and with manufacturers eager to reach the rapidly growing market for sustainable materials.

Notably, the company supported well-known names in the lumber and building materials sectors such as Dixie Plywood and Peery Bros Lumber. Testimonials from these clients highlighted Campbell’s ability to not only achieve certification but also drive measurable improvements in marketing, staff training, and customer trust.

Tom Heard, Director of Marketing at Dixie Plywood, credited Forest Products Solutions with defining the company’s “Green Mission Statement,” developing customized FSC training, and creating marketing tools that clarified the firm’s environmental values for customers. Likewise, Mike Peery of Peery Bros Lumber praised Campbell for his ability to bridge the worlds of green building and FSC compliance, delivering practical solutions rather than theoretical advice.

Market Position and Industry Impact

Forest Products Solutions occupied a unique space in the sustainability ecosystem of the late 2000s—a time when green building programs like LEED were expanding rapidly, but the supply chain for certified materials was still catching up. Many companies wanted to participate in the green economy but lacked the technical knowledge to do so responsibly.

Campbell and his team filled that gap by offering turnkey solutions that connected producers and end-users in a transparent, traceable, and economically viable manner. The consultancy became a trusted intermediary between the certification agencies, the manufacturers, and the architects or builders who specified materials for green projects.

In the Pacific Northwest, where timber remains a cornerstone industry, Forest Products Solutions helped reshape the perception of forestry from one of environmental exploitation to one of ecological stewardship. By promoting certified sourcing, Campbell’s work supported a new generation of sustainable forestry operations that balanced profitability with conservation.

Cultural and Environmental Significance

Beyond its immediate business role, Forest Products Solutions contributed to a cultural shift in how sustainability was discussed within the construction and manufacturing sectors. The company emphasized that sustainability was not merely a trend or marketing label but a long-term framework for resilience, efficiency, and integrity.

Its advocacy paralleled the rise of eco-conscious design and the global movement toward supply-chain transparency. By promoting FSC standards, Forest Products Solutions indirectly supported conservation efforts in tropical and temperate forests worldwide. FSC certification, after all, ensures that wood products come from responsibly managed forests that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Through its training, presentations, and online resources, the company educated hundreds of professionals—architects, developers, and contractors—about how everyday purchasing and design decisions influence global ecosystems. This educational mission gave Forest Products Solutions lasting cultural significance even after its website went offline.

Press and Public Recognition

While Forest Products Solutions operated primarily within professional networks rather than through mass media, its influence was well recognized in sustainability circles. Terry Campbell’s expertise earned invitations to speak at industry events such as Greenbuild, one of the world’s largest sustainable design conferences. His presentations on the state of the FSC market were cited by municipalities and trade associations as foundational to their green procurement strategies.

The firm’s credibility was reinforced through its association with respected certification organizations like SmartWood and SCS, and through Campbell’s attainment of the ISO 19011 Lead Auditor qualification. These credentials underscored the firm’s technical authority and reliability at a time when greenwashing—false or exaggerated environmental claims—was becoming a major concern in marketing.

Legacy and Online Footprint

Although ForestProductsSolutions.com is no longer active, archived pages preserve a vivid record of its contributions during a formative period in sustainability consulting. Its blend of technical expertise, communication strategy, and education positioned it at the forefront of responsible forestry promotion in North America.

The website itself was structured as a knowledge hub—offering clear explanations of FSC certification types, sample marketing strategies for green products, and testimonials from leading firms in the lumber industry. For many small and mid-sized manufacturers, it served as one of the first accessible online resources explaining how certification could enhance not just environmental credibility but also competitiveness and profitability.

After 2010, as sustainability consulting became a mainstream industry, many of the practices that Forest Products Solutions pioneered—such as employee training for environmental literacy and transparent supply-chain documentation—were adopted by larger consultancies and institutional frameworks. In this sense, its influence extended far beyond its size or years of operation.

Forest Products Solutions represents an important chapter in the evolution of sustainable business practices. By combining technical FSC expertise with practical market insights, the company empowered businesses to compete in a new era where environmental responsibility was no longer optional but expected.

Under Terry Campbell’s leadership, the firm helped bridge the knowledge gap between producers and consumers, turning sustainability from an abstract ideal into a measurable, marketable reality. Its focus on education, authenticity, and accountability made it a quiet but pivotal contributor to the broader environmental movement in the building materials industry.

Even years after its closure, the legacy of Forest Products Solutions endures through the countless companies, auditors, and sustainability professionals who benefited from its guidance. In today’s world—where green building is a global standard rather than a niche—its early efforts to link certification, commerce, and conscience remain both relevant and admirable.

ForestProductsSolutions.com