LEED and FSC certified paper stock

Hi, thanks for your question concerning FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council certified paper. From your question I am assuming that you are referring to building certification under the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) rating system. In this particular rating system, there is a credit that refers to Sustainable Purchasing for Ongoing Consumables (Materials and Resources Credit 1). In the requirements for this credit, “sustainable purchases” are defined as those that meet one or more of the following criteria: 1. Purchases contain at least 10% postconsumer and/or 20% postindustrial material. 2. Purchases contain at least 50% rapidly renewable materials. 3. Purchases contain at least 50% materials harvested and processed or extracted and processed within 500 miles of the project. 4. Purchases consist of at least 50% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)–certified paper products. 5. Batteries are rechargeable. The requirements also state that the one point is awarded to projects that achieve sustainable purchases of at least 60%, of total purchases (by cost) during the performance period. Therefore, if you wish to earn this credit but cannot find another printer who is FSC certified, then you will have to ensure that 60% of your total purchases of ongoing consumables meet the other criteria for recycled material, rapidly renewable or regionally located materials. Keep in mind that this is only one credit in the LEED: EBOM rating system of a total of 110 possible points. In order for a building to be LEED Certified (the minimum level of LEED certification), you only need to earn 40 of the 110 potential points. Best of Luck! Dave