US WORKING GROUP INC

INCREASE CONSUMER DEMAND: THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL IS A VOLUNTARY, MARKET-BASED SYSTEM THAT RELIES ON COMPANIES AND THEIR CUSTOMERS TO DRIVE DEMAND FOR FSC-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS, WHICH IN TURN SUPPORTS GROWTH IN FOREST LANDS PROTECTED UNDER FSC STANDARDS. TO FACILITATE THESE EFFORTS, FSC INVESTS IN CONSUMER EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, ENGAGES COMPANIES TO DEVELOP PROGRESSIVE FOREST PRODUCTS PROCUREMENT POLICIES AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS, AND WORKS WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO PROMOTE SOUND POLICIES SUPPORTING FOREST STEWARDSHIP. FSC FOCUSES ITS INDUSTRY ENGAGEMENT IN GREEN BUILDING, PAPER AND PRINTING, PACKAGING, FURNITURE, AND BIOENERGY.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2024, FSC EXPANDED ITS ONLINE PRESENCE TO 22,500 FOLLOWERS ACROSS LINKEDIN, FACEBOOK, AND INSTAGRAM HELPING TO AMPLIFY KEY MESSAGES AND REACH BROADER AUDIENCES. THE FOREST WEEK CAMPAIGN SAW THE HIGHEST ENGAGEMENT AMONG GLOBAL PARTNERS, DEMONSTRATING GROWING CONSUMER INTEREST AND CONNECTION TO THE MISSION. FSC ALSO UPDATED MARKETING MATERIALS AND PROMOTED THE BRAND AT MAJOR TRADE SHOWS TO INCREASE VISIBILITY AND INTEREST, WHILE PARTNERING WITH LEADING COMPANIES TO SPOTLIGHT FSC CERTIFICATION IN THE MARKETPLACE.

ENHANCE SYSTEM INTEGRITY: THE FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL SETS STANDARDS FOR RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY CERTIFICATION. OUR SYSTEM IS FOUNDED ON THESE STANDARDS, MAKING THEIR INTEGRITY, RELEVANCE, AND IMPACT OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES. THIS INCLUDES THE ONGOING DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STANDARDS AND POLICIES, AS WELL AS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE OUR NORMATIVE FRAMEWORK REFLECTS THE CONSENSUS OF OUR DIVERSE MEMBERSHIP.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)IN 2024, FSC PROTECTED THE CREDIBILITY OF IT'S SYSTEM BY MANAGING 12 TRADEMARK CASES, CLOSING 4 AND ACTIVELY OVERSEEING 8. FSC ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF U.S. STAKEHOLDERS TO PREVENT POLICY CHANGES THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED AUDIT COSTS AND LEGAL RISKS FOR CERTIFICATE HOLDERS, AND PROVIDED TECHNICAL INPUT ON POLICY CONSULTATIONS TO REDUCE LEGAL CONFLICTS AND FINANCIAL BURDENS. FSC ALSO IMPROVED TRACKING OF CERTIFICATE LOSS BY CONDUCTING EXIT INTERVIEWS AND DEVELOPING A MORE ROBUST DATA SYSTEM TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS EMERGING TRENDS.