If you’ve been following Nusantara Lifestyle from the beginning, you already know sustainability isn’t a marketing buzzword for us — it’s the foundation of who we are. From reclaimed teak to natural water-based finishes, recycled upholstery, biodegradable packaging, and made-to-order production, we’ve always believed that the most meaningful pieces are those with the smallest environmental footprint.
Today, we’re proud to announce a milestone that clearly demonstrates that commitment:
Nusantara Lifestyle is now officially FSC® Recycled and FSC® Mix certified
Before we dive into what this means, here’s something most people don’t know:
There are three FSC labels — each doing their bit for forests in a different way
| FSC Label | What It Means | Why It Matters |
| FSC 100% | All wood comes from FSC-certified forests | The strongest current assurance the wood is sourced from ‘responsibly managed’ forests — but we feel it’s important to recognise that harvesting new timber is never impact-free |
| FSC Recycled | Product made from 100% recycled wood | Reduces the need to harvest new trees — that’s us! |
| FSC Mix | A blend of FSC-certified, recycled, and controlled materials | Reduces risk of wood from dodgy sources — that’s us too |
Nusantara Lifestyle now holds both FSC Recycled and FSC Mix certification, but FSC Recycled is the label we’re putting front and centre.
Why? Because it reflects our core commitment: to work only with wood that already exists. Highlighting the FSC Recycled label reinforces that reclaimed wood is and always will be at the heart of our identity, as it’s the only way to achieve genuine sustainability in wood manufacturing. This certification aligns with the work we’ve been doing from day one.
What FSC Recycled Certification Actually Means
The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is the world’s most trusted sustainability standard for forest-based products, which include anything made from wood, paper, or other materials that come from forests. When you see an FSC label — the small tree with the checkmark flowing into its canopy — it’s the best possible guarantee that the product meets strict environmental and social criteria.
The FSC Recycled label applies only to products made from 100% recycled wood materials.
For us, it means:
- Our reclaimed teak, which is mostly salvaged from traditional and heritage structures in Java, is now officially recognised by the FSC for its environmental benefit.
- Every Nusantara Lifestyle piece you buy, or work with us to design, is verified to the highest possible standard to reduce demand for newly harvested timber.
In simple terms:
Our furniture, along with our flooring, decking, cladding, and homewares, doesn’t require cutting down new trees — and now we have a globally trusted label to prove it.
Why FSC Recycled Matters for Furniture Buyers
Just like the words ‘eco-friendly’ are splashed across the hospitality and tourism industries in what has become painfully obvious is blatant greenwashing, the same terms are often used in the furniture sector without any real accountability behind them.
Even though we reckon we do a damn good job of proving that everything we do is a greenwashing-free zone, the FSC label is a new shortcut to prove we walk the talk.
By choosing FSC Recycled-certified products, you support:
- Reducing deforestation — ensuring forests are protected long-term
- Fair labour and safe working conditions — based on International Labour Organization (ILO) standards
- Biodiversity protection — safeguarding endangered species and fragile ecosystems
- Indigenous and community rights — ensuring land and cultural protections are respected
The Road Towards FSC Certification
Here’s a bit of the story behind the FSC and how it began. The 1992 Earth Summit — a major United Nations conference on environment and sustainable development — failed to secure a global agreement on stopping deforestation, so environmentalists, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and businesses came together to create a voluntary global standard: the Forest Stewardship Council, which was founded in 1994.
Today, FSC supports the world’s largest responsible forestry network (though once again, it’s important to recognise that no new timber harvest is impact-free.) It includes:
- 60,000+ certificate holders
- 1,700+ promotional licence holders
- 150+ million hectares of certified forest
- Thousands of responsible businesses worldwide
Becoming part of this network took us a fair amount of time — and rightly so. The process involves audits, documentation, chain-of-custody verification (a system that tracks materials from their origin through every step of processing), and full transparency from sourcing to production.
For us, as furniture manufacturers, the whole process reinforced something we’ve held strong to since the beginning:
Traceability and sustainability are our primary responsibilities.
Whether you’re furnishing a new home, business or hotel, or adding a single meaningful piece, always remember that your choice matters. The FSC Recycled label gives you certainty that your decisions reduce deforestation, support workers, and contribute to healthier ecosystems.
From all of us at Nusantara Lifestyle, thank you for backing ethical production and genuine sustainability. We know certification isn’t everything, but it’s a meaningful reminder of the standards we set for ourselves, and the path we’re choosing to stay on.
Explore the Difference FSC Recycled Makes
Browse our Alami range of reclaimed teak furniture, Akar range of flooring, decking and cladding, and Ndalem range of homewares, all produced by Nusantara Lifestyle, the latest member of the FSC Recycled club.
