STIP made simple

Arco is proud to be STIP certified. STIP is a mark of trust. It guarantees that a company only uses 100% certified wood. Not so much as a splinter of non-responsible wood allowed. Importantly, STIP is government-approved, so you can be sure it’s objective. Indeed, STIP itself is constantly assessed: independent experts check its standards, over and over. Truly, the gold standard for premium wood.

As you might suppose, STIP involves a strict auditing process at the procurement stage. So while STIP means stress and effort on Arco’s part, it means peace of mind for customers. In fact, even if interest in sustainability wanes, a STIP company keeps going, working to the most exacting standards regardless of the market. Some convictions are worth more than profit.

Acronym versus acronym: STIP vs FSC vs PEFC.

Many forests produce FSC or PEFC-certified wood. They’re both excellent certificates and play an important role in sustainable forestry. But there’s a catch. A Chain of Custody (CoC) certificate like FSC/PEFC doesn’t guarantee that every twig can be traced to responsible sources. In other words, FSC/PEFC certificated companies may use non-certified wood.

Contrast this with STIP: 100% certified wood, 100% of the time. Which is why Arco stands behind STIP – if you’re going to get certified, go all in. STIP promises that every raw material complies to the most exacting guidelines.

Despite its higher standards, STIP is less well-known, perhaps because it’s a Dutch certification. Nevertheless, STIP promises a peerless guarantee of “good wood.” This matters most when dealing with complex furniture like tables; multiple components make certification tracking an extra challenge. But with STIP, every part of every object can be traced, from the forest to your home, up and down the supply chain. So in the battle of the acronyms, STIP wins.

WE KEEP ONE EYE ON WHAT PEOPLE WANT,

AND THE OTHER ON WHAT THE PLANET NEEDS. 

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If you want to discover more about our love for wood and take on sustainability, continue reading our journals about sustainability and wood: